STEEPSIPTERA. 



249 



the nectar is drawn by capillary attraction. The meta- 

 morphosis of these insects is complete. 



The Silkworm (Bombyx mori) belongs to this order. 

 It is the most important of all insects to man, as from 

 it alone all the silk of commerce is obtained. Its cocoon 

 is of a beautiful yellow colour, varying in shade from 

 orange to pale straw-colour; the silk of one cocoon 



FIG. 23. THE SILKWORM (Bombyx IHOri). 



1, the Eggs ; 2, the young Silkworms ; 8, the full-prowu Silkworm ; 

 4, the Cocoon ; 5, the Chrysalis ; 6, the Moth. 



weighs somewhere about three grains ; it would there- 

 fore, at this calculation, take 1920 worms to spin one 

 pound. The annual import of silk into this country 

 alone is about 7,000,000 pounds, it must therefore 

 take 13,440,000,000 Silkworms to supply us with silk 

 yearly ! The Silkworm feeds almost exclusively on the 

 leaves of the mulberry. 



