Monday, October 08, 2007

Silkworms

Our friend Monica asked us recently if we would like some silkworms?

All we needed was a shoe box and we would be given some easy maintenance worms that just needed a ready supply of fresh Mulberry leaves.

A few days later and our shoe box was returned to us with 22 thin little silkworms.





They looked like small off cuts of knitting wool. The first lot of Mulberry leaves lasted a week and the silkworms filled out a little.

Over the last week these little worms have consumed box full after box full of leaves and have grown enormous! We are making daily drives to Carey Bay where there is a huge Mulberry tree and as fast as we put the leaves in the box they are being eaten!

The kids are facinated by them and Gareth has been keeping the box in his room. If you put your ear near the box you can hear the sound of munching! This morning one of them has started to spin his silk cocoon. I take a deep breath as I open the lid each morning dreading the day that a whole load of moths fly out! I am also dreading any of them escaping. I better go check on them again....

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ........




P.S. I've been asked if this video has been sped up? No, It's realtime!

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