I thought one of my silkworms was ready to pupate this morning (panic panic). Apparently when they are ready to make a cocoon they exude a gel-like droplet from their tail end, and one of mine had some orangey-yellow stuff at the back end. Half an hour later though it had disappeared - false alarm probably. They still have another skin-change to go through before then.
This is how big they are now :-
They are changing as they get bigger and their heads are becoming more bulbous now. I had to split them up again this morning, they are now in five containers.
Here are a few photos taken of the countryside around our house the other evening :-
Sorry about the boring flowers - I just like taking photos of flowers, especially wild ones.
They've really grown! How exciting that they're nearly ready for the next stage! I keep saying how exciting all this silk worm business is but it really is!
ReplyDeleteHow did you find out all about how to raise them? Is there a good book or a resource on the internet that you'd recommend or did you pick up everything you need to know from the person you got the eggs from?
I love your flower pictures... I like taking flower photos too, especially wild flowers. You have to make the most of it while they're about! :)
Hi Kate,
ReplyDeleteI got most of the instructions from Worldwide Butterflies website www.wwb.com but if you Google silkworms there's quite a lot of information on the internet.
You really need a mulberry tree though - I got my seeds from Chilterns in Ulverston, although it's taken 8 years for my tree to reach the size it is now.
I think they're exciting too. I bought the black and white striped ones because I didn't know how I'd cope with white grubs. But they're actually quite cute!
Thanks for the link! I'll check out that website and see what else is out there on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the thought of white grubs is a bit off-putting... the stripy versions are much friendlier looking :)
Ulverston is just down the road from me! I'll start looking into the mulberry tree situation. I think its fantastic that you grew yours from seed!
Yes, I thought you must be near Ulverston. I used to live in Stainton, and when we visit we stay with friends in Ulverston.
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