11 Questions
Why is silk known as the 'Queen of Textiles'?
For its association with elegance, class, and comfort
What is the significance of the cocoon stage in the life cycle of a silkworm?
It allows the silkworm to transform into a pupa for further development
Why does the caterpillar secrete a fibre made of proteins during the cocoon stage?
To form a protective covering for its transformation into a pupa
Where did the use of silk as a fibre originate?
China
What type of animal fibre is silk?
Animal fibre
What does silk production involve?
Obtaining silk yarn from the cocoon of the silk moth
What is the name of the most common silk moth mentioned in the text?
Mulberry silk moth
What is the process of obtaining adult silk thread from a cocoon?
Spinning
What is the term for the occupation of rearing silkworms?
Sericulture
What does the pupa transform into in the life cycle of a silk moth?
Moth
What do female moths lay after mating?
Tiny eggs
Study Notes
Life Cycle of a Silk Moth
- A silk moth's life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva (silkworm), pupa, and adult moth.
- The female silk moth lays eggs, from which larvae hatch and grow into caterpillars or silkworms.
The Cocoon Stage
- The caterpillar secretes a fibre made of proteins called 'fibroin' and 'sericine' to form a cocoon.
- The fibre hardens on exposure to air and becomes a silk fibre, completely covering the caterpillar.
- The pupa continues to develop inside the cocoon, eventually emerging as a moth.
Production of Silk
- The silk yarn is obtained from the cocoon of the silk moth.
- Different types of silk moths produce silk yarn with varying textures (coarse, smooth, shiny, etc.).
- Adult silk thread is obtained by unwinding the cocoon and then woven into silk cloth.
Sericulture
- 'Sericulture' or the culture of silkworms is a very old occupation in India.
- The most common silk moth is the mulberry silk moth (Bombyx mori), which produces soft, lustrous, and elastic silk fibre.
Characteristics of Silk
- Silk is known as the 'Queen of Textiles' due to its elegance, class, and comfort.
- Silk is a type of animal fibre produced by a moth called the silk moth.
History of Silk Production
- The use of silk as a fibre originated in China.
- There are various types of silk, such as Tassar silk, Mooga silk, and Kosa silk, obtained from cocoons spun by different types of moths.
Test your knowledge on the importance of the cocoon stage in the life cycle of a silkworm, the first country to produce silk, and why silk is known as the 'Queen of Textiles'. Answer questions related to the process where the caterpillar secretes silk fibres and transforms into a pupa.
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