How long do Silkworms live?
The full life cycle runs roughly 6–8 weeks: the larva (the 'silkworm') feeds for about 25–30 days and grows around 10,000-fold through five molts, then spins a cocoon over 3–4 days (pupa inside for 10–14 days), and the flightless, mouthless adult moth emerges for just 5–7 days to mate and lay 300–500 eggs before dying. The moths do not eat or drink; the larva does all the eating. Commercial cocoon harvest kills the pupa by heat before it breaks the silk; if you let moths emerge, the cocoon is ruined for reeled silk but the cycle continues.
What do Silkworms need?
Silkworms eat almost exclusively mulberry leaves (or a prepared silkworm chow made from mulberry-leaf powder) — no other leaf reliably works. They need fresh leaf offered 2–3 times daily, removed before it wilts or molds, at a steady 24–28°C and 70–80% humidity. They need clean, smooth rearing trays (paper or plastic), good airflow without drafts, and isolation from ants, mice and household sprays. A single mature worm eats roughly its own body weight in leaves every day at peak growth.
Housing and setup
Setup is simple but strict: shallow trays or boxes lined with paper, refreshed daily as the worms grow and poop (silkworm 'frass' builds up fast). Keep trays indoors away from cold, heat vents and direct sun; stacked, ventilated shelf units work for larger numbers. Prevent condensation (it breeds fungal disease) and never handle worms with wet hands. If you want reelable silk, you will need a cocoon-drying method (a warm oven or dehydration step) and space to store eggs for next year's cycle.
Common mistakes with Silkworms
The deadliest routine errors: feeding wilted, wet or moldy leaves (gut septicemia kills trays overnight); overcrowding (stunted worms and disease spread); temperature crashes below 20°C or spikes above 30°C (growth stalls, molting deaths); and poor hygiene — leftover leaf and frass left to sour is the usual cause of pebrine and muscardine outbreaks. Treat the rearing like a clean laboratory, not a backyard bucket.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Feeding wilted, wet or moldy leaves — silkworm gut disease wipes a tray within a day; only crisp, dry mulberry leaf or fresh chow.
- Overcrowding and skipped cleaning — frass and moisture breed fatal fungal and pebrine infections.
- Temperature swings outside 24–28°C — cold stalls growth, heat kills during molts.
- No steady leaf supply — a single missed day at peak growth can starve a fast-growing tray.