As caterpillars are to butterflies, as silkworms are to moths. They start life as eggs, which take about 14 days to hatch into silkworm. The newly-born silkworms eat continuously until, after molting 4 times, they encase themselves in a cocoon of silk produced from their salivary glands. They emerge from the cocoon as fully grown adult moths. Silkworms have had a central role in many cultures, and they have been domesticated for the production of their silk which is woven into fine fabrics and goods. Silkworm cocoons were boiled, killing the silkworm and making the cocoon easier to unravel and apply in the production of fabrics - the silkworm itself is often eaten. With this educational specimen, you see firsthand all of the stages of a life of a silkworm. The block features real samples of eggs, larva, pupa and adult moth. All of this is nicely presented in an acrylic block. When used as a slide under a microscope or as a hands-on specimen, this makes a fantastic addition to any science classroom.
**Comes with a card detailing each number and stage of the life cyle