Silk moth may refer to
*Moths that produce
silk
Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...
in their larval stage, including many Saturniidae, Bombycidae, and Apatelodidae moths.
*The moth superfamily
Bombycoidea
Bombycoidea is a superfamily of moths, including the silk moths, giant silk moths, sphinx moths, saturniids, and relatives. The superfamily Lasiocampoidea is a close relative and was historically sometimes merged in this group. After many ...
, in contrast to other silk-producing moth groups.
*The moth family
Bombycidae
The Bombycidae are a family of moths known as silkworm moths. The best-known species is ''Bombyx mori'' (Linnaeus), or domestic silk moth, native to northern China and domesticated for millennia. Another well-known species is '' Bombyx mandarina' ...
, in contrast to other silk-producing moth families.
*The species ''
Bombyx mori
''Bombyx mori'', commonly known as the domestic silk moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of '' Bombyx mandarina'', the wild silk moth. Silkworms are the larvae of silk moths. The silkworm is of ...
'' in particular.
See also
*
Saturniidae
Saturniidae, members of which are commonly named the saturniids, is a family of Lepidoptera with an estimated 2,300 described species. The family contains some of the largest species of moths in the world. Notable members include the emperor m ...
, a family of moths including emperor moths, royal moths, and giant/wild silk moths
*
Apatelodidae
Apatelodidae, the American silkworm moths, is a family of insects in the order Lepidoptera. They are a family within the superfamily Bombycoidea, though they have in the past been considered a subfamily of Bombycidae.
Distribution
Species ar ...
, a family of American silkworm moths
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