The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-15
The Silk Werm.--Its Habits.

The silk-worm proper. or that which
supplies the ordinary silk of commerce
is the larva of a small moth known tt
scientific men as .Sericuria mora. 1t is
often popularity characterized as the null
berry silk-worm. During the long cen
turies of cultivation it has undergone il
has acquired many useful peculiarities
1t has, in fact, become truly edomesti.
Gated animal. The white color of The
species, its seeming want of all desire te
escape as long as tits kept supplied with
leaves and the loss of the power Of
flight ON the part of the moth are all I'M
doubleday the result of domestication.
Other peculiarities have incidentally ap-
peared, and the great number of varie-
ties or races of the silk-worm almost
equal those of the domestic dog. The
silk-worm exists in four states-egg.
larva, chrysalis and adult, or image. The
egg of the sllk-Worm moth is called by
silk-raisers sseed. . It's nearly round,
slightly tlattened, and in size resembles
turnip-seed. The time from Matching
to the spinning of the cocoon may and
does vary all the way from thirty to forty
days, depending upon the race of the
worm, the quality of the food, mode OF
feeding. temperature. The color of the
newly-hatched worm is black or dark
gray. Different shades of dark Pray will
however, be found among worms hatch
ing from the same batch of eggs.
1t has been estimated that the worm in
its growth consumes its own weight of
leaves every day it feeds, but this IS only
an approximation; yet it is certain that
during the last few days before COM
mencing to spin it consumes more than
during the whole of its previous worm
existence, and it is curious fact that
the color of the worm at this
time corresponds with the color
of the silk. Having attained full
full growth, the worm is ready to spin.
1t shrinksin size, acquires aclear, trans
lucent, often pinkish or amber-colored
hue, becomes restless, ceases to eat, and
throws out silken thread. The worm
usually consumes from three to five DAYS
IN the construction of the cocoon. and
IN three days more passes into the
chrysalis state. The cocoon consists Of
an outer lining of loose silk, known as
"fless,n which is used for carding, and
IS spun by the worm in first getting its
bearings. The inner cocoon is tough,
strong and compact, composed of CON
tinuous thread often over 900 feet in
length. In form the cocoon is usually
oval, and in color yellowish, but in both
these features it varies greatly, being
either pure silvery-white, cream or
carneous green, and even roseate. and is
nftnn cfr IL
The chrysalis is brown oval body, con-
siderably less in size than the full-grown
worm.
The chrysalis state continues for from
twoto three weeks, when the skin bursts
and the moth or butterfly energies. With
no jaws, and confined within the narrow
space OF the cocoon, the moth finds some
difficulty in escaping. For this purpose
it's provided in the two glands near the
obsolete mouth with strongly alkaline
liquid secretion, with which it moistens
the end of the cocoon and dissolves the
hard, gummy lining. Then, by for
ward and backward motion, the prisoner.
with cratnped and damp wings, gradu-
ally forces its way out, and when once
out the wings soon expand and dry.
The silken threads are simply pushed
aside, but enough are broken in the
process to render the cocoon from which
the moth escape useless for reelino, and
until recent Years was thrown away. but
1t is now used for carding, and its value
varies from seventy-five cents to one dol
lar per pound. To make the cocoon val
uabie for reeling, and worth from two
to three dollars per pound. the moth
should not be allowed to cut out, but
should be smothered CT stified. In most
silk-produeing countries the parties who
raise the cocoons sell them to the reelino
establishments before suffocation is nec-
essary, as these establishments have bet-
Ter facilities for doing this work than are
TO DE found in private families. Domes-
ucatlon has had the effect of PRODUCING
numerous varieties of silk-worm, eyery
Inherent climate into which it has been
carried having produced either some
change In the quality of the silk or the
shape or color OF the cocoons, or else
altered the habits of the worm.
Some varieties produce but one brood
N q year, no matter how the eggs are
such are known as annu-
ais. Others, known as bivoltins. hatch
vice in the course of year. The trey
,ltins produce three ANNUAL generations
There are also quadrivoltins. and in
bengal, va,iety known as dacev, which |
produce eight generations in the course |
y year Experience, taking into con-
'lderatIon the quality of the silk, size of
ne cocoon, time occupied. ETC., has
proved the ANIMALS to be more profitable |
han any of the polyvoltins, although |
'lvoltlns are successfully reared in Cali |
ornla- a. Laaier, in Industrial Re |
'iey.