How does silkworm spin silk? Detailed answer

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How does silkworm spin silk? Detailed answer

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How does silkworm spin silk?

Thousands of years ago, the Chinese learned the secret of making silk clothes from a beautiful linen spun by a special caterpillar in the manufacture of a cocoon. This secret was kept in the strictest confidence, and if someone exported a silkworm or its eggs from China, then he was sentenced to death.

Now, of course, silkworms are common not only in China, but also in Japan, India, France, Spain, Italy and many other countries. The best silk is produced by a caterpillar of a small greyish-white moth that feeds on white mulberry leaves.

In early summer, each female lays 500 or more eggs. They are perfectly preserved on a piece of paper or clothing until the next spring, when the mulberry leaves begin to bloom again. Tiny black worms emerge from the eggs placed in the incubator. They are placed on a tray with plucked mulberry leaves, and they constantly feed on them for six weeks.

When the worms begin to barely turn their heads, this indicates that they are ready to weave their cocoon. They put small branches on a tray. Worms twine themselves with an almost invisible thread that extends from a small opening in their jaws. The cocoon, which consists of 460-1100 meters of thread, is finally ready in about 72 hours.

Inside the cocoon is a shriveled caterpillar, which turns into a moth after 12 days. The cocoons are placed in troughs with warm water, which dissolves the silk glue that holds all the threads in a certain shape.

Threads from several cocoons are connected together into one thread, which is wound into a spool. Then comes the next stage - twisting raw silk into yarn. This thread, consisting of 10-12 fibers of individual cocoons, is called a single silk thread.

When we buy things made of silk, they are marked with what kind of thread they are made of - double or triple. In our time, nylon has become so popular and cheap that it has begun to replace silk. But still, silk will always be valued for its beauty, good quality and softness.

Author: Likum A.

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