How to Care For Silkworms | Breeding, Feeding, Temperture, Humidity

In this Care Sheet, we cover all the requirements for raising silkworms for feeders or cocooning.

Requirement	Quick Reference Chart
Housing	A container that is large enough for the silkworms to grow. The container should have a few small holes for ventilation. The bottom of the container should be lined with a layer of newspaper or paper towels. Add screen to get the silkworms up off their waste
Food	Fresh mulberry leaves or Silkworm Chow. The leaves should be free of pests and should be placed in the container with the silkworms. The silkworms will eat the leaves and leave behind their droppings.
Water	Silkworms do not need to drink water. They get all the moisture they need from the mulberry leaves or chow.
Temperature	The ideal temperature for silkworms is 72-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity	The ideal humidity level for silkworms is around 70%. You can mist the container with water occasionally to help maintain the humidity level.
Handling	Silkworms are delicate, so they should be handled with gloves or tongs. They should not be picked up by their tails, as this can hurt them.
Cocooning	After about 25 days, the silkworms will start to cocoon. This is when they will form a silken cocoon around themselves. The cocoons should be left undisturbed until they hatch. This usually takes about 10-14 days.

Introduction

Silkworms are the caterpillars of the moth Bombyx mori. They are a popular feeder insect to raise, as they are relatively easy to care for and can be a fascinating learning experience.

Housing

Silkworms can be housed in a variety of containers, such as a shoebox, or plastic container. The container should be large enough to accommodate the silkworms as they grow, and it should have plenty of ventilation.

The bottom of the container should be lined with a layer of newspaper or paper towels. This will help to absorb any moisture and make it easier to clean the container.

Silkworm Should also have something to climb so they can molt. Using a spent toilet paper roll or netting works well.

Food

Silkworms eat mulberry leaves or silkworm chow. The leaves and Silkworm chow can be purchased from TCINSECTS.COM. If you have a mulberry tree, you can also collect the leaves from the tree.

The leaves should be fresh and free of pests. They should be placed in the container with the silkworms. The silkworms will eat the leaves and leave behind their droppings.

Water

Silkworms do not need to drink water. They get all the moisture they need from the mulberry leaves.

Temperature and Humidity

Silkworms prefer a temperature of 72-85 degrees Fahrenheit. They also prefer a humidity level of around 70%.

You can maintain the correct temperature and humidity by placing the container in a warm, well-ventilated area. You can also mist the container with water occasionally.

Handling

Silkworms are delicate, so they should be handled with care. They should not be picked up by their tails, as this can damage them.

If you need to handle a silkworm, you can gently pick it up with your fingers. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the silkworms.

Cocooning

After about 25 days, the silkworms will start to cocoon. This is when they will form a silken cocoon around themselves.

The cocoons should be left undisturbed until they hatch. This usually takes about 10-14 days.

Conclusion

Silkworms are a relatively easy insect to care for. They can be a fascinating learning experience, and they can be used as feeder insects and also be used to produce silk.

If you are interested in raising silkworms, I encourage you to do shop at TC INSECTS. With proper care, you can enjoy raising these fascinating creatures for many years to come.

Here are some additional tips for caring for silkworms:

Clean the container regularly to remove any droppings or dead silkworms.
If the silkworms are not eating or seem lethargic, check the temperature and humidity levels in the container.
If the silkworms are starting to cocoon, provide them with a clean, dry surface to attach their cocoons to.
Once the silkworms have hatched, do not release them into the wild, since they are non-native.

Purchasing Silkworms and Silkworm Eggs to get your Project Started
We recommend getting your silkworms and Silkworm Food from TCINSECTS.COM the nations fastest growing silkworm farm! You can check some of the Products out below.