Easter Egg Cocoons
This isn’t my photo, but I’m using it with permission because it illustrates so perfectly the variety of cocoons you can get from Bombyx silkworms. There are six strains in these seven containers; they are all Bombyx mori, the colors, sizes, and shapes are genetic. The names really only make sense to me, but starting with the back left, they are Avi’s Striped, MFW (Mulberry Farms White – before they changed hybrids), Howard’s Gold, Rosa Pink, more Howard’s Gold, Howard’s White, and Halla’s Peach. My friend who raised the cocoons and took the photo enjoys raising the silkworms, but doesn’t work with the cocoons, so he sends them to me – and a package from him is always a welcome treat!
A variety of silk cocoons
They really do look like tiny easter eggs or birds eggs! This passion of yours is so fascinating.
HUGS from the Twin Cities!
I’m suddenly craving kellogg’s Corn Pops.
Hee. Yeah, they do kinda look that way… not nearly as tasty, though.
They’re beautiful. The Rosa Pink and Halla’s Peach are my favourites.
Wow, they’re all so pretty! The striped and peach are so interesting. I need a friend like yours! =)
the gold ones are gorgeous!!! And I really like the peach too! just stunning…
do you have any plans to sell the reeled silk???
Nope. Even with starting from free cocoons, I could make *maybe* fifteen cents an hour. I’ve occasionally traded, but I just can’t afford to sell the stuff, time-wise.
My favourites too.
Wow! 🙂
They are too beautiful to degum!
What do you have with the Rosa Pink, cocoon-less pupae?
I just wish that color would stay in the silk… it’s very fugitive to heat and light.
That would be my guess… it always happens with a small number. These aren’t mine, so I can’t comment.
So despite the gorgeous colors now, they’ll be white/off-white by the time you degum and reel and all? How very sad! Such pretty colors, especially that VIBRANT yellow!
I can reel them and not lose the yellow, the pink colors tend to fade even with the drying. Degumming takes all the color out and leaves you with a yellowish “natural.”
They’re like yummy little presents! Isn’t nature amazing?