Project Silkworm Part III

To break out of their cocoons, silk moths excrete a special liquid that dissolves silk.  Once they emerge, silk moths do not fly, eat or drink anything.  Females, which are larger than males, have a scent that attracts the males.  Attracted males flutter their wings rapidly, and then they mate.

Female silk moths lay hundreds of eggs.  Silk moth eggs are yellow at first and then turn black.  To prepare for future Silkworm Project lessons, we wait for the eggs to turn black and then refrigerate them.  To start the hatching process, we take the eggs out of the refrigerator and after two weeks they hatch.  The silkworm life cycle begins again.

Very special thanks to Second Grade teacher Laura Alonso for taking all of the cocoons home and babysitting them until the silk moths emerged (and also for supplying the video below).  Special thanks also to science coordinator Leslie Quan
for devising and teaching such a cool project.

See Part I and Part II of Project Silkworm.