4th instar larva after molting
📷May 28, 2022
4th instar larva (5-7 days)
Approximately 3 ～ 4.5cm in size.
Feed whole mulberry leaves two or three times a day (Kyusou). Then, clean up the droppings and leftover food once a day (Jyosa).
※As the amount of food they eat increases rapidly, the amount of droppings they produce also increases, so be careful about hygiene and humidity control.
4th instar larva
📷June 1, 2022
Breeding box（Kakuza) for 4th instar larvae
📷June 2, 2022
“Kakuza” (Expansion)
The process of enlarging the breeding area as the larvae grow is called expansion(Kakuza). When the larvae become overcrowded, the humidity becomes too high and they become susceptible to disease. However, if the leaves dry out, they will dry out quickly, so the key is to create an environment that keeps the humidity at a level that doesn’t get stuffy.
They eat mulberry leaves for 5-7 days and then go to sleep.
4 sleep (about 1.5 – 2 days) ➔Molting
Molting of 4th instar larva
🎥June 6, 2022
山まゆの里染織工房 