(6/9)
After spinning for about three days, silkworm become small
as 2-3cm, and then, about 5 days after "agari", ecdyse
to pupa in the cocoon. Newly ecdysed pupa is white and fragile,
and gradually become brown and hard in a day. I cut cocoons with
razor(very carefully) and take pupae out from cocoon, divide them
into males and females for prepared copulation and egg laying.
(6/12)
On June 12, the third day of fifth instar, bombyx larvae become
about 7-8cm, are eating mulberry leaves for all day and night.
Twenty larvae placed on 35 x 25cm tray (picture), eat mulberry
leaves in 6 to 8 hours. A larva eats one leaf as large as adult
palm par a day.
The larvae will be deadly eating for 2 or 3 days, and gradually
stop eating. After that, they will be spinning cocoons.
On June 17, the 8th day of fifth instar, many bombyx larvae
stop feeding, and climb the rim of basket to search suitable place
to spinning cocoon. They eagerly spin much threads. Such conditions
are called "agari" (it means 'up' in japanese). These
larvea looks rather transparant color (because they stop feeding),
shortend (6-7cm). They incline to move brighter, higher place.
Sometimes they escape basket, spin cocoons unexpected place.
In sericulturists, frameworks called "mabushi" (made
of either thick paper, plastics or straws) are used for the place
to spinning cocoon. I use cake boxes (this time of year, I become
fat...sigh) for that purpose. 7 to 10 larvea are put in a box
(picture below). A cocoon spinning for about one day (arrow) is
fully shaped but soft and thin. A larva inside cocoon works eagerly
to make cocoon hard and thick.
In sericulturists, frameworks called "mabushi" (made
of either thick paper, plastics or straws) are used for the place
to spinning cocoon. I use cake boxes (this time of year, I become
fat...sigh) for that purpose. 7 to 10 larvea are put in a box
(picture below). A cocoon spinning for about one day (arrow) is
fully shaped but soft and thin. A larva inside cocoon works eagerly
to make cocoon hard and thick.