🐛 Types of Silkworms

Silkworms are economically important insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera. These worms are reared for silk production, a practice known as sericulture. Based on the type of silk they produce and their food preferences, silkworms are broadly classified into four main types.

1. Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx mori)

Silk Type: Mulberry Silk (finest and most popular)

Habitat: Completely domesticated

Food Plant: Mulberry leaves (Morus alba)

Cocoon: White or yellowish, oval, made of one continuous silk thread

Use: Used in commercial silk production globally

Fact: Over 90% of silk production in the world comes from Mulberry silkworms

 2. Tasar Silkworm (Antheraea mylitta, Antheraea proylei)

Silk Type: Tasar Silk (coarse-textured, strong) 

Habitat: Wild and semi-domesticated 

Food Plants: Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Asan (Terminalia tomentosa)

Cocoon: Hard and oval, brownish in color

Use: Popular in tribal areas of India; used for making sarees and traditional garments 

🟢 Tasar silk is known for its natural coppery-golden sheen

.3. Muga Silkworm (Antheraea assamensis)

Silk Type: Muga Silk (glossy, golden-yellow)

Habitat: Endemic to Assam, India

Food Plants: Som (Machilus bombycina), Soalu (Litsea polyantha)

Cocoon: Golden yellow, oval, firm

Use: Exclusive to Assam, used in traditional Assamese dresses like Mekhela-Chador

🟢 Muga silk is a GI-tagged product and can last over 100 years without losing shine.

4. Eri Silkworm (Samia ricini) 

Silk Type: Eri Silk (woolly, warm)

Habitat: Domesticated

Food Plants: Castor (Ricinus communis), Kesseru (Heteropanax fragrans)

Cocoon: Open-ended, white or creamy

Use: Known as the "poor man’s silk", commonly used in shawls and quilts

🟢 Unlike others, Eri silk is extracted without killing the pupa, making it Ahimsa silk.

Summary Table

Silkworm Type	Habitat	Silk Color	Food Plant	Notable Use
Mulberry	Domesticated	White/Yellow	Mulberry leaves	Mainstream silk industry
Tasar	Wild/Semi-wild	Brown/Coppery	Arjun, Asan	Tribal and traditional clothing
Muga	Wild (Assam)	Golden Yellow	Som, Soalu	Assam’s heritage, royal fabrics
Eri	Domesticated	Creamy/White (woolly)	Castor, Kesseru	Ahimsa silk, winter garments

Silkworms form the backbone of India’s silk industry. From the luxurious Mulberry silk to the eco-friendly Eri silk, each type has its unique ecological and commercial significance. Understanding these varieties is crucial for students, researchers, and sericulturists alike.

References

1. Ramesh, M. (2020). Sericulture and Silk Technology. Kalyani Publishers.

2. FAO. (2009). Manual on Sericulture. Link

3. Assam Sericulture Department - https://sericulture.assam.gov.in