My Favorite Insect—Silkworm

by Heidi Gao

Ancient China is famous for its silk production, originating from tiny silkworms that contribute to the creation of soft, shiny silk threads, used to weave precious silk fabrics. Therefore, in China, almost everyone has experience in raising silkworms. One of my childhood joys was raising silkworms, too.

The only food for silkworms is mulberry leaves. In my village, mulberry trees are planted everywhere. I still remember I had one tall mulberry tree in my backyard, too. When the first spring rain begins, mulberry trees start to sprout, and silkworm babies begin to crawl out of eggs. They are very tiny, just like black sesame seeds.

I kept them in an empty shoe box because they didn’t like the sun. Every morning, I picked fresh mulberry leaves for them. The living habits of silkworm babies are to sleep when they are full and eat when they wake up.
Silkworms will shed their skin; after one molt, they will be the first -instar larvae. The larvae will be “one year older” after shedding their skin once. They will molt four times in total in their lifetime. Each time, they eat more and more, they look just like white caterpillars. Sometimes I put them in my pencil case and took them to school. We competed to see who took care of them better.

Soon, I noticed silk strands emerging in all four corners along the edge of the box. The silkworms spun increasingly enveloping themselves in layers of shimmering cocoons. Through this meticulous process of sericulture, I came to realize the profoundly selfless nature of the silkworm’s existence. From larva to cocoon, pupa to moth, and ultimately from egg to death, it labors tirelessly in silent devotion. I marvel not only at their ceaseless industry but also at their quiet sacrifice during a fleeting life wholly dedicated to sustaining the cycle of creation.