The mulberry tree is the main factor in this process because without mulberry leaves sericulture is impossible. When the first eggs were smuggled to Europe, mulberry trees did not grow there. Therefore it was also necessary to bring the seeds of the tree to Europe. If development is allowed to continue normally, in about 2 weeks the chrysalis will break through the cocoon filament and emerge as a moth and live only a few days. Females lay 300-500 eggs before they die.
Eggs lie in wait for the following spring.
In order to obtain silk, the cocoons are passed through hot steam to kill the butterflies before they break through the cocoons. The next stage is to put silk threads onto cones by machine in factories. The production of raw silk can take place only where the climate is warm and mulberry leaves are abundant. China produces most of the world's silk with Turkey being eleventh. Until the 1980s most of the production in Turkey was exported.