The Effect of Moisture on the Silk Worm

Abstract

Since relative humidity indicates the evaporative power of the air at a certain temperature, relative humidity can be used in most cases. Moisture affects the worm organism directly through the air environment. On the other hand, the body of the worm is affected by moisture through food. The fresh mulberry leaf, which is the food of the silkworm, is 75 percent water. Part of the water is absorbed into the intestines of the worm, and the rest is excreted with feces. 40 percent of the water absorbed in the gut of the worm evaporates through the skin of the worm, and the rest remains in the body. In older worms, water evaporates faster, because at this time the skin of the worm is smaller compared to the size of the body. The coefficient of water absorption in young worms is higher than that of adult worms, and the droppings of young worms are drier than those of adult worms. Due to the increased exchange of water in the body of young worms, heat consumption also increases. In other words, more heat is spent in the body than accumulated.