Spinning Cocoons Photoshoot

What a fascinating event! The silkworm releases liquid silk from the two silk glands near the lower jaw which then flows through the "spinneret".  The two silk glands constitute approximately one-quarter of the silkworm larva's mass. The fluid hardens into fine silk threads as soon as it contacts the air. At first, the caterpillar fixes supportive threads of silk that will hold the cocoon in place. Then it swings its head from side to side in a figure-eight movement, encasing its body in silk. For about three days the caterpillar spins the continuous silk thread until it is fully encased in its beautiful protective cocoon of silk. It can spin from about 600 to 900 metres of continuous silk thread! The silk is beautiful and shines in the light (lustrous).  It is amazing how the silkworm "stands" on the silk thread and then maneuvers within the cocoon to produce the perfect cocoon shape. 

 

Click on the photo to enlarge. You can see the spinneret and the silk thread.

A video worth watching to see the silkworms spinning is entitled 

"Silk Pavilion"  https://vimeo.com/67177328