The Wild Silkmoth is the closest wild relative of the domestic silkworm and is thought to be the species it was domesticated from. It lives in East Asia and does not occur in the United States.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A small, dull grayish-brown moth with a wingspan of about 1.4–1.6 in (35–40 mm). It has a slimmer body than the domestic silkmoth.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Woodland edges
- Mulberry trees
- Range
- Native to China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East. It is not found in North America.
Behavior
- Activity
- Unlike the domestic silkmoth, which has lost the ability to fly, wild adults fly well and come to lights at night.
Life cycle
- Caterpillar food plants
- Caterpillars feed mainly on mulberry leaves.
Name and classification
- About the name
- It was once treated as a subspecies of the domestic silkworm (Bombyx mori), but the two are now usually kept as separate species. They can still interbreed.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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