Silkworm Moth
Image: Maria Sibylla Merian (Public domain)
Common NameSilkworm Moth
Scientific NameBombyx mori
FamilyBombycidae
SubfamilyBombycinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsyellow, brown
HabitatCultivated environments (sericulture farms)
Geographic RangeGlobally cultivated, native to East Asia
Host Plantsmulberry
Flight PeriodMultiple generations per year (in controlled environments)
Lifecycle NotesEggs hatch into pale, segmented caterpillars (silkworms) that feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. After several molts, the caterpillar spins a large, oval, silken cocoon, inside which it pupates. The adult moth emerges from the cocoon.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its stout, hairy body, pale yellow wings with faint brown lines, and feathery antennae. The large, white, segmented caterpillar is a key identifier, always found on mulberry plants.
Description
A pale yellow moth with a stout, hairy body and faint brown markings on its wings. The illustration shows its full life cycle, including a large, pale caterpillar feeding on a mulberry leaf.
