how to keep silkworms alive past cocoon stage

gigi613 · Apr 27, 2019

Hello friends!
I am a new silkworm investor as my beardie loves them and I despise crickets with a passion!
I have successfully learned how to raise eggs into big old chunky worms and successfully have had some spin in some time as well.
But here’s my issue... the two that spun died in the cocoon. It was 6 weeks after spinning so I cut the cocoon open (carefully Incase anything was still alive) and found shriveled up half developed moths not even fully out of the pupae shell.

My question is what conditions should I keep my cocoons under and what are some tips to hatch healthy moths? I don’t want this to keep happening and am truly devastated they didn’t make it. Thank you for your help in advance!

Claudiusx · Apr 27, 2019

Not all of them will fully develop if you are buying the eggs most places mention this I believe. Once you get a few generations into your breeding you should have better success. Just keep them how you keep your worms and it should be fine.

-Brandon

Drache613 · Apr 27, 2019

Hello,

Unfortunately, not all of them make it, as sad as it is. When I hatch some out, it is upsetting when
they don't make it out. I keep track of when they go into the cocoon, etc & about when they should
be coming out.
Sometimes you can pick the cocoon up & actually hear it scratching its way trying to get out. I will
often times help it out. I think that they excrete higher levels of serrapeptase secretions than at other
times of the year. The serrapeptase enzyme helps to break down the silk, allowing them to dissolve
the silk & hatch out. It is most likely their form of population control I would assume.

Tracie

how to keep silkworms alive past cocoon stage

gigi613

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Claudiusx

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