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 Insectucational > Insect ActivitiesSilkworm Activities |
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Activity #1: Search The Internet For Silkworm Information While you are waiting for your silkworm larvae to arrive, probe the Internet for silkworm information (if you don’t have a computer at home with Internet access, try your local public library). Call up your favorite search engine (such as yahoo.com or altavista.com) then type in “silk,” “silkworm” or “moth.” Use any other words relating to silkworms that come to mind. When you have found a silkworm site, bookmark it on your computer or print out the pages and keep them for future reference. Who knows, you may have to do a report on silkworms for school someday! Activity #2: Keep A Silkworm Growth Journal Keep a daily journal of your silkworms’ growth. Get a small notepad, a flexible tape measure and a pencil. For each journal entry, write the day and date. Open the lid and take a close look at your silkworms (but remember to replace the incubator lid when you’re done). Document anything you notice about them. How much larger and longer are they today? Have they developed any new markings? Try to discover something different about them each time you make a journal entry. Use your tape measure to measure the larvae. You may also wish to draw pictures of the silkworms each day. Once the silkworms have completed their metamorphosis, it will be fun to look back at how quickly they have grown. Activity #3: Harvest Your Raw Silk After the adult silkworm moths have safely hatched from their cocoons, you can harvest the raw silk thread. Have an adult boil some water. Remove the pan from the heat and let the water cool for about 3 minutes. Drop one of the cocoons into the warm water and let it soak for about a minute. Remove the cocoon with a large spoon or ladle, set it on a paper towel, and let it cool. When the cocoon is cool enough to handle, pick it up and begin to gather the silk between your thumb and index finger. Roll the thread back and forth while pulling it away from the cocoon. You’re now harvesting silk! As the thread grows, you may wish to wrap it around a spindle or similar object for safe keeping. In the factories where silk is produced, these cocoons are boiled with the moths inside. This kills the moth, but allows the silk to remain in a single strand which is necessary for weaving the thread. Please do not boil your unhatched cocoons. Activity #4: Take Your Adult Silk Moth For A Walk The silkworm moth has been domesticated for over 4,000 years. This means the moth cannot fly - but you can still make it feel like flying by taking it out for a walk! Carefully place your finger underneath the front legs of the silk moth. Go very slowly and be careful not to injure the moth. You will notice how easily the moth will crawl onto your fingertip. Don’t worry, it won’t bite. Hold your little friend up to eye level and take a good look. Now if the weather is nice, take your moth outside for a walk around the block. You won’t even need a leash! |
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