Silkworm Caterpillars produce silk

Another caterpillar fact that you might be interested in is that silkworm caterpillars can spin silk threads from a particular protein in their salivary glands.

They use this silk to weave a cozy cocoon for protection as they transform into pupae. The silken thread spun by a single silkworm can be up to 900 meters long, over half a mile! Humans have been breeding silkworms for their silk for thousands of years, a practice known as sericulture.

While silk and silk fabric have many uses, including in fashion and medicine, silk production involves boiling the cocoon killing the moth.

Scientists are exploring ways to use silk in medical applications like stitches, artificial skin, and drug delivery systems because our bodies accept silk more quickly than other materials.