SERICULTURE AS A SUSTAINABLE AGROECOSYSTEM: BIOLOGY OF BOMBYX MORI, ECONOMIC VALUE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OF MULBERRY, AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

Abstract

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an insect that is widely known for producing natural silk fibers used in the textile industry. It is considered an economically important insect because the silk obtained from it is used to make clothing, carpets, and decorative fabrics. Unlike many other insects, the silkworm is a completely domesticated species and cannot survive in the wild without human care and protection. Egg, larva, pupa, and adult moth are the stages which involves in the life cycle of silkworm. This type of development is called complete metamorphosis. In which stages, the larval stage is the most important because silk production occurs during this period. The art of breeding and managing silkworms for the production of silk is called sericulture. This practice began in ancient China thousands of years ago and later spread to many other parts of the world. Studying the biology of silkworms helps researchers understand their growth, sericulture or economic importance.