Description
Wild Silk is from the saturniid family. These moths are large, approximately 6″ across, in brown, honey and rust colors with distinctive ‟eyes” on their wings. They feed on Oak, Cherry, Plum, Castor Bean and Jujube leaves that contain a high amount of Tannin. This diet produces a light honey to dark brown color fiber, which is not as fine or lustrous as Bombyx Silk fiber, but easier to spin.
In 2640 B.C. Si-Ling-Chi, ‟Goddess of the Silkworm,” found a silk cocoon in her tea cup and reeled off the silk filament, thus beginning the development of sericulture. Bombyx Mori the ‟silkworm of the mulberry tree” produces the finest, most lustrous silk fiber. Growing through four stages; the egg, caterpillar, pupa and moth. The Kego or larvae emerge from the eggs and begin to eat leaves for 30 days, moulting five times, increasing in size 10,000 fold. The Silk Cocoon is spun in a figure 8 formation, after the worm creates a hammock to hold itself, from liquid silk or fibroin blended with sericin, a natural glue, through a mouth like opening or spinneret, producing a fiber almost a mile in length.
This Silk Moths History Mug is part of our Science & Invention series which includes many unique individuals and topics.
The biographical History Mugs were created to teach and inspire individuals to learn about our diverse and interesting history. The biographies were researched and written by history enthusiast, Robert Compton. He colorized most of the historic photos and images used on the mugs, which were originally black and white or sepia-tone. The images and biographies are imprinted on mugs at his studio in rural Vermont.
- Mugs are food and microwave safe.
- To preserve photographic quality we recommend hand washing.
- Mugs are usually shipped within 3-5 days.
