The diagrams below depict the life cycle of the silkworm alongside the stages involved in the production of silk cloth.
Overall, the visuals illustrate the intricate process starting from the mulberry leaf where the silkworm life cycle commences to the various phases in the production of silk cloth, encompassing selection, boiling, and unwinding of silkworm cocoons.
In terms of the silkworm life cycle, it begins with the consumption of mulberry leaves by the silkworm larvae, lasting for approximately 10 days. Subsequently, the larvae undergo the transformation stage within a cocoon, which spans from 3 to 8 days, before emerging as moths after a period of 16 days. The adult moths lay eggs, and the cycle recommences with hatching and feeding on mulberry leaves.
Switching focus to the production of silk cloth, the process involves three primary stages. Initially, the silk cocoons are meticulously selected for quality assurance. Following this, the selected cocoons undergo a boiling process in a water-filled pot, enabling the ease of silk thread extraction. Lastly, the silk thread is unraveled either manually or by a machine, with a capacity ranging from 300 to 900 meters in length.