🐛 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