Illustration of the life stages of the silk moth (Bombyx mori). The larvae (top) hatch from eggs and undergo four moults before entering the pupal phase, where they encase themselves in a cocoon (bottom right) made of silk. After around two weeks the adult moth (bottom left) emerges from the cocoon. The fabric silk is made from the cocoons. The silk moth is native to China, where silk has been produced for at least 5000 years. Illustration from 'Les boutiques de Paris' by Eugene Muller, Paris (1882).

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Photo credit: © COLLECTION ABECASIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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