FASCINATING FACT

The silkworm is the larvae form of the Asian silk moth, Bombyx mori. It is a soft-bodied caterpillar that feeds almost exclusively on Mulberry. Silkworms have been bred in captivity for over 5,000 years in China and almost as long in other nearby countries such as Korea, Nepal, Japan and India for their ability to create raw silk. The domesticated silk moth is thought to have derived from a Chinese locality of the wild type, Bombyx mandarina but cannot fly like their wild cousins.

Although their rich history within Chinese culture is impressive, today, silkworms are perhaps best known as food. Exotics keepers are often well aware of the benefits of feeding silkworms to their animals, but in some countries, silkworms are readily eaten by people. In India and China, the larvae are roasted and sold as street food. In Japan and Vietnam, silkworms are the main ingredients for several main dishes. In Thailand and Korea they are frequently sold as snacks and in some cases, sold in supermarkets as pre-packaged snacks. Their readiness to breed, quick growth cycles and high nutritional value has even seen some scientists support the idea of cultivating silkworms in space as an astronaut foodstuff.

Part of the reason why farm-raised silkworms are eaten by plenty more humans than animals is that we are aware of just how nutritious they are. They are lower in fat than any other commercially bred “worm” but contain well over double the mg/kcal of calcium of a mealworm or cricket. They are also 54% protein, making them one of (if not the) most protein-rich feeder insects. Because of this, silkworms can be fed as a staple diet for most insectivorous pets. Although they are more expensive than crickets and locusts, their nutritional value is unparalleled and some keepers choose not to provide additional supplements because of this.

Silkworms are soft-bodied and made up of 76% moisture, making them excellent for desert species like Uromastyx as well as arboreal tropical species like chameleons. They can also be kept and grown to meet the size requirements of the animal. “Micro” silkworms are typically around 0.5cm whilst “XL” silkworms reach upwards of 5cm before they start to pupate. Most commercially available silkworms are size “large” at around 4-5cm. Some suppliers also sell eggs, which can be hatched and raised on mullberry. They do not require water and can be raised in standard-sized live food tubs. Providing any dead grubs are removed to prevent bacteria growth, even the novice reptile keeper can maintain a healthy collection of silkworms to feed to their animals.