The silkworm pupa is the metamorphosis stage from larva to adult. During the pupa's development, when the pupal skin becomes slightly wrinkled and turns a brownish-yellow cocoon color, it means the silkworm moth is about to emerge from the cocoon. So, how many days does it take for a silkworm pupa to become a silkworm moth? Let's find out.
How many days does it take for a silkworm pupa to develop into a silkworm moth?
It takes 10-15 days for a silkworm pupa to develop into a moth. When emerging from the cocoon, the moth's head first breaks through the pupa, and then it secretes a yellow liquid to dissolve the cocoon. This yellow liquid is the moth's digestive fluid, which breaks down the cocoon into silk protein, allowing the moth to emerge.
How can you tell the sex of a silkworm pupa?
1. Abdominal differences
The female silkworm pupa has a straight line running down the center of the ventral surface of its eighth and ninth abdominal segments, dividing the segments in the middle. The male silkworm pupa, on the other hand, has a pair of small protrusions on the center of the ventral surface of its ninth abdominal segment. Additionally, the female silkworm pupa has a small transparent dot on the center of the ventral surface of its ninth abdominal segment, while the male silkworm pupa has four small transparent dots on the ventral surfaces of its eighth and ninth abdominal segments.
2. Different tails
Generally, silkworm pupae with an "X" mark at the tail are female, while those with a "Y" mark at the tail are male.
3. Different external genitalia
The female silkworm pupa has a black bony plate near its copulatory opening, while the male silkworm pupa has a pair of milky white claspers with small punctures on their surface near its copulatory opening.
4. Nutritional differences
Male and female silkworm pupae refer to the eggs and larvae of the silkworm *Salvia miltiorrhiza*. Both types of pupae are edible, but their nutritional value differs slightly. Male silkworm pupae are rich in nutrients such as brain hormones and androgens, while female silkworm pupae are rich in protein, fatty acids, vitamin B12, and trace elements such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
