Bombyx is the genus of true silk moths or mulberry silk moths of the family Bombycidae, also known as silkworms, which are the larvae or caterpillars of silk moths. The genus was erected as a subgenus
Etymology
The word
bombyx comes from Ancient Greek βόμβυξ, which means "silk-worm" or "silk garment".
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Species
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Bombyx horsfieldi (Moore, 1860)
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Bombyx huttoni Westwood, 1847
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Bombyx incomposita van Eecke, 1929
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Bombyx lemeepauli Lemée, 1950
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Bombyx mandarina (Moore, 1872) – wild silk moth
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Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758) – domestic silk moth
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Bombyx rotundapex Miyata & Kishida, 1990
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Bombyx shini Park and Sohn, 2002
Hybrids
Two instances of semi-natural hybridisation are known within this genus:
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Bombyx hybrid, a hybrid between a male B. mandarina and a female B. mori
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Bombyx second hybrid, a hybrid between a male B. mori and a female B. mandarina
Food
The
caterpillars feed on
Moraceae, especially on mulberries (
Morus species).
Domestic silkworms may be fed artificial mulberry chow.
