Bombyx mori
Domesticated silk moth, primary producer of silk.
Bombyx mori, commonly known as the domestic silk moth, is a domesticated moth species belonging to the family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of Bombyx mandarina, the wild silk moth, and is of particular economic value as a primary producer of silk. Domestic silk moths are entirely dependent on humans for reproduction, having lost their ability to fly and their native coloration through millennia of selective breeding.
- species
- Bombyx mori
- common_name
- Domestic silk moth
- family
- Bombycidae
- known_for
- Primary producer of silk; sericulture
- domestication_origin
- China, at least 5,000 years ago
- wingspan
- 3–5 cm (1–2 in)
Lore & Background
The domestic silk moth was domesticated from the wild silk moth Bombyx mandarina, which has a range from northern India to northern China, Korea, Japan, and the far eastern regions of Russia. The domestic silk moth derives from Chinese rather than Japanese or Korean stock. Silk moths were unlikely to have been domestically bred before the Neolithic period, as the tools to manufacture quantities of silk thread had not been developed. The domesticated Bombyx mori and the wild Bombyx mandarina can still breed and sometimes produce hybrids, though it is unknown if B. mori can hybridize with other Bombyx species.
Reader's Guide
Bombyx mori has been central to sericulture for at least 5,000 years, originating in China and spreading to India, Korea, Nepal, Japan, and the West. The silkworm's preferred food is white mulberry leaves, and the larvae go through five instars before pupation. The conventional process of sericulture kills the silkworm in the pupal stage by boiling the cocoons, which prevents the moth from emerging and damaging the silk. This practice has been criticized by animal welfare advocates, leading to the production of Ahimsa silk from cocoons of moths allowed to emerge.
Did You Know?
- Domestic silk moths have lost their ability to fly and their native coloration due to millennia of selective breeding.
- The silkworm's preferred food is white mulberry leaves, attracted by the odorant cis-jasmone.
- The domestic silk moth's genome contains 43.6% repetitive sequences, mostly transposable elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bombyx mori?
Bombyx mori is the domestic silk moth, a member of the Bombycidae family that has been intimately tied to human civilization for thousands of years. It is the species most people picture when they hear "silk moth," and it has been reshaped by selective breeding into something quite distinct from its wild ancestors.
What is Bombyx mori's main role?
This moth is the backbone of sericulture worldwide, serving as the primary organism that spins the silk thread harvested from its cocoons. Without Bombyx mori, the entire global silk industry would essentially not exist.
How did Bombyx mori get domesticated?
Humans in China began raising these moths for their silk at least five thousand years ago, gradually selecting for traits that made them more useful to breeders. Over those millennia the species became so dependent on human care that it can no longer reproduce or survive in the wild on its own.
Why can't Bombyx mori fly?
Through thousands of generations of selective breeding focused on silk yield and other desirable traits, the moth lost its natural ability to fly along with its original coloration. This makes it entirely reliant on humans for every stage of its life cycle, from egg to cocoon.
What is Bombyx mori's closest relative?
The wild silk moth, Bombyx mandarina, is its nearest living relative and the species from which the domesticated form was originally derived. Fans often compare the two to appreciate just how dramatically human selection has reshaped the domestic moth over the centuries.
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