Raising food..

[gotwqqd]

i think I'll be raising dubia and silkworm for food.
My mother keeps chickens so I have a place to get rid off excess dubia.

The silkworm seem to be more expensive and slower populating. But, is there a place to seek the silk cabins after they have transformed to reduce cost?
Our are the cocoons no good if not used before transforming?

Seems like it would be a good idea for silk industry to use lizard owners to create product by subsidizing them with food for the worms.

 

[Lathis]

To my understanding, once the moth comes out of the cocoon, it's ruined and can't be used for silk. I believe they harvest the silk while the worms are still pupating.

The chickens will be very grateful for the dubia - they would probably love the silkworms too if you end up with too many. You could also try selling them locally. I wish someone here did that. I tried my hand at raising silkworms a few years back. Too much work for me for only one chameleon.

 

[bobcochran]

To my understanding, once the moth comes out of the cocoon, it's ruined and can't be used for silk. I believe they harvest the silk while the worms are still pupating.

The chickens will be very grateful for the dubia - they would probably love the silkworms too if you end up with too many. You could also try selling them locally. I wish someone here did that. I tried my hand at raising silkworms a few years back. Too much work for me for only one chameleon.

Lathis is correct! The silk worm cocoon is made of a single strand, they boil and unravel them to get one silk thread into which they make silk cloth. When the pupa becomes a moth it secretes some kind of liquid that softens the cocoon and the moth chews through the end to escape.

 

[Lathis]

Lathis is correct! The silk worm cocoon is made of a single strand, they boil and unravel them to get one silk thread into which they make silk cloth. When the pupa becomes a moth it secretes some kind of liquid that softens the cocoon and the moth chews through the end to escape.

It's like an orange acid gunk that opens the end of the cocoon. Pretty gross in cool way.

 

[bobcochran]

It's like an orange acid gunk that opens the end of the cocoon. Pretty gross in cool way.

Oh! Sorry I didn't know t the scientific term?

 

[Lathis]

Oh! Sorry I didn't know t the scientific term?

"Orange acid gunk" IS the scientific term

It might not be acidic, actually, that's just what it reminded me of. If you pick up the moths when they are new, they poop this stuff on you too. It's a bit gross, that's all.

 

[bobcochran]

I'm not sure that's the same liquid,oops sorry orange acid gunk, they excrete inside the cocoon as after they are out. After getting out I think they release pheromones to attract the opposite sex.
If they shoot it on you, I think you should take it as a compliment.