The Life Cycle of Silkworms

The following journal shows the growth of our silkworm moths.
We will be updating this page often so check back soon
to see the changes we observe.


Click here to read a story about how silkworms grow.

Date
Picture
Notes
April 12, 1999 

Day 1
These eggs are from the silkmoths raised in my classroom last year. 

We will watch them hatch and grow and discover the wonderful changes that take place.

Mrs. Joelson
April 13, 1999

Day 2

Baby silkworms hatched from tiny eggs.  The silkworms are little black caterpillars
Desiree
We fed them Mulberry leaves.  Elizabeth measured the silkworms.
They are 1/8 inch long.
Jacob
April 16, 1999

Day 5

Our silkworms have changed.  Now they are about 1/4 of an inch long.  Their color has changed from black to gray.  They eat all of the leaves that we give them.
Tristan
April 20, 1999

Day 9

The silkworms are eating more and they are moving their heads.  The holes in the leaves are getting much bigger than they used to be.
Jacob
The silkworms do not need water because the leaves have moisture.
Garrett
April 21, 1999

Day 10

I take care of six silkworms.  They eat a lot and they are getting bigger.  When my silkworm twists 4 times I have to leave it alone.
Sean
I watch the silkworms grow and make holes in the leaves. 
Bethany
April 23, 1999

Day 12

My silkworms are off-white.  My oldest silkworm is about 1/2 of an inch long.
Nicole
One of my silkworms has molted.
There are bigger holes in the leaves.
Brittany
April 27, 1999 

Day 16
My silkworms have a spike on their tail.  The silkworm I measured is 1/2 inches long. 
Danielle
My silkworms are in the 2nd stage of their life cycle.
Elizabeth
April 30, 1999 

Day 19
I just noticed some changes on my largest silkworm.  She has ten black stripes along her body and she has tiny gray spots along her sides.  They are her breathing holes.  They are called spiracles.
Hollis
May 17, 1999

Day 36

I have seen a little bit of molting
from my silkworms.  My biggest silkworm is about 2 inches long.
Ian
They are getting black lines and they are getting bigger every day.
Gabriel
May 18, 1999

Day  37

The silkworms have a spike on their bottom.  The bigger the silkworm the more suction on their feet.
Garrett
The silkworms have hair on their bodies.  They are cold-blooded because they are insects.
Danielle
May 19, 1999

Day 38

On Tuesday one had spun its cocoon.  On Wednesday three more had spun cocoons.
Hollis
My silkworms are eating more and more every day.  Soon they are going to make cocoons.
Amanda
May 20, 1999

Day 39

Some of cocoons you can still see through.  The cocoons are yellowish.
Jessica
I have three silkworms that are in cocoons.  They are going to change into moths.
Bethany
May 21, 1999

Day 40

There are about 54 silkworms in cocoons.  During this time they are pupas.  The first born silkworms are cocoons.
Tristan
June 7, 1999

Day 57

The first moth that hatched in our class was on June 3rd.  On the 5th and 6th a lot of moths hatched.  We put the moths in one place so they would mate.
Garrett
June 10, 1999

Day 60

Our silkmoths are mating.  The silkmoth eggs are yellow at first and then they turn gray.
Jessica
I know how to tell who is a female or a male.  The female is fat and the male is skinny.
Amanda
June 15, 1999

Day 65

The moths have been laying hundreds of eggs for next year.
Garrett
If you collect all the eggs and put them in a cool, dry place then they will hatch in the spring.
Sean