The silk moth is the adult form of the insect. Before moths emerge, one end of the cocoon will appear wet. This is an enzyme the moth uses to soften the hard shell of the cocoon so it can push through. The moths usually emerge in the morning hours with damp with crumpled wings. They soon dry, unfold their wings and begin mating behavior.
Females discharge a pheromone detected by the antennae of the males.
Since domestic silk moths cannot fly, males must be a short crawl away from females for successful reproduction. Soon after mating, the male moths die. Within hours of mating, female moths begin laying eggs. The female dies shortly after laying about 300 eggs in 1 to 4 days. The common silk moth, Bombyx mori , is fully domesticated and completely dependent on man for survival.