The silkworm (scientific name: Bombyx mori) undergoes several stages of development before it becomes a mature adult. Here are the stages of silkworm development:

  1. Egg: The silkworm life cycle begins with the hatching of eggs laid by the female silkworm moth. The eggs are tiny and round, and they usually take about 10 days to hatch.

  2. Larva: Once the eggs hatch, the silkworm enters the larval stage. During this stage, the silkworm feeds on mulberry leaves and grows rapidly. The larval stage is the longest stage in the silkworm life cycle, lasting around 4-6 weeks.

  3. Pupa: After the larval stage, the silkworm enters the pupal stage. During this stage, the silkworm spins a cocoon around itself using silk produced from its salivary glands. Inside the cocoon, the silkworm undergoes metamorphosis and transforms into an adult moth. The pupal stage usually lasts for about two weeks.

  4. Adult: Once the metamorphosis is complete, the adult silkworm moth emerges from the cocoon. The adult moth has a short lifespan of only 4-5 days, during which it mates and lays eggs to begin the life cycle anew.

These four stages of development represent the complete life cycle of the silkworm.