In Third Term, the Sea Lion Class was lucky enough to be given some baby silkworms to look after (thank you Renea). We have been able to nurture them and watch them complete their life cycle.
Jane, Ayla, Isla and Fred were the main carers for our silkworms and then silk moths. It is thanks to them – and Nicole, that we have these photos of the life cycle of the Western Australian Silkworm (bombyx mori) below.
Deb Lynass and Sea Lion Class
12th November 2021
- To start with, the silkworms were tiny and lived in a shoebox.
- They grew larger and larger…This meant they ate more and more mulberry leaves. “Sometimes we fed them three times each day.” reported Jane.
- The silkworms grew so fat and active that we needed two shoeboxes. Then… they started to spin webs.
- When this happened, some of the students began to transfer silk cocoons to a clean box with no leaves.
- Next, the cocoons began to hatch. Out came fluffy, fat, furry white moths.
- The moths found a mate, and then laid some eggs- ready for the next set of silkworms. We refrigerated those…
- Finally…their work done, the silk moths died so the next generation could thrive.
What an amazing learning experience!
