Editing Bombyx mori (section)

== Domestication ==
[[File:Han Gold Silkworm (47425344012).jpg|thumb|left|Gold silkworm, [[Han dynasty]]]]
The domestic species ''B. mori'', compared to the wild species (e.g., ''B. mandarina''), has increased cocoon size, body size, growth rate, and efficiency of its digestion. It has gained tolerance to human presence and handling, and also to living in crowded conditions. The domestic silk moths cannot fly, so the males need human assistance in finding a mate, and it lacks fear of potential predators. The native color pigments have also been lost, so the domestic silk moths are [[leucism|leucistic]], since camouflage is not useful when they only live in captivity. These changes have made ''B. mori'' entirely dependent upon humans for survival, and it does not exist in the wild.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Marian R. Goldsmith |author2=Toru Shimada |author3=Hiroaki Abe |year=2005 |title=The genetics and genomics of the silkworm, ''Bombyx mori'' |journal=[[Annual Review of Entomology]] |volume=50 |pages=71–100 |pmid=15355234 |doi=10.1146/annurev.ento.50.071803.130456|s2cid=44514698 |url=https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/bio_facpubs/337 }}</ref> The eggs are kept in [[Incubator (egg)|incubators]] to aid in their hatching.

=== Breeding ===

[[File:Women placing silkworms on trays together with mulberry leaves (Sericulture by Liang Kai, 1200s).jpg|thumb|Silkworms and mulberry leaves placed on trays ([[Liang Kai]]'s ''Sericulture'' c. 13th century)]]

Silkworms were first domesticated in China more than 5,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hong-Song Yu1 |author2=Yi-Hong Shen |author3=Gang-Xiang Yuan|display-authors=et al |title=Evidence of selection at melanin synthesis pathway loci during silkworm domestication |journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=1785–99 |year=2011 |pmid =21212153 |doi=10.1093/molbev/msr002 |doi-access= }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Dennis Normile |title=Sequencing 40 Silkworm Genomes Unravels History of Cultivation |journal=Science |volume=325 |issue=5944 |pages=1058–1059 |year=2009 |pmid=19713499 |doi=10.1126/science.325_1058a |bibcode = 2009Sci...325.1058N |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[File:Pupa of Silk worm nepal.jpg|thumb|left|Pupae]]

[[File:Weighing and sorting the cocoons (Sericulture by Liang Kai, 1200s).jpg|thumb|right|Silkworm cocoons weighed and sorted (Liang Kai's ''Sericulture'')]]

Silkworm breeding is aimed at the overall improvement of silkworms from a commercial point of view. The major objectives are improving [[fecundity]], the health of larvae, quantity of cocoon and silk production, and disease resistance. Healthy larvae lead to a healthy cocoon crop. Health is dependent on factors such as better pupation rate, fewer dead larvae in the mountage,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mountage: Meaning and Types {{!}} Sericulture|url=http://www.notesonzoology.com/sericulture/mountage-meaning-and-types-sericulture/200|website=Zoology Notes|date=21 July 2016}}</ref> shorter larval duration (this lessens the chance of infection) and bluish-tinged fifth-instar larvae (which are healthier than the reddish-brown ones). Quantity of cocoon and silk produced are directly related to the pupation rate and larval weight. Healthier larvae have greater pupation rates and cocoon weights. Quality of cocoon and silk depends on a number of factors, including genetics.

=== Hobby raising and school projects ===
In the U.S., teachers may sometimes introduce the insect life cycle to their students by raising domestic silk moths in the classroom as a science project. Students have a chance to observe complete life cycles of insects from eggs to larvae to pupae to moths.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758) |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/112871225/verbatim |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.gbif.org |language=en}}</ref> Other than the U.S.,  this domestic silk moth is utilized in educational settings in several countries, including China, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Iran, and Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-13 |title=Researchers develop silkworm for children to raise - Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2018/05/13/2003693004?utm |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.taipeitimes.com}}</ref>