CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Can mulberry leaves be frozen and then used to raise silkworms?

Can mulberry leaves be frozen before raising silkworms?

Theoretically, it should be possible. Generally, mulberry leaves can be kept for up to 2 days after being sprinkled with water. It should be more fresh if placed in the refrigerator. It's just that the mulberry leaves are a little cold. However, when it's rainy and a little cold, the mulberry leaves picked back are not directly fed to silkworms.

After the mulberry seedlings are planted, they are cultivated into different tree shapes through cutting techniques such as cutting, thinning buds, pruning, and core removal according to their variety characteristics, environmental conditions, and production requirements. This is called the cultivation stage. According to the height of the mulberry trunk, the tree shape is generally divided into high-trunk mulberry (above 150 cm), medium-trunk mulberry (70~150 cm), low-trunk mulberry (below 70 cm), and ground mulberry (also known as stemless mulberry and root-cut mulberry). The purpose of planting mulberry is to pick leaves and raise silkworms, and mulberry leaves are the nutritional organs of mulberry trees. While picking leaves, attention should be paid to raising trees to achieve the goal of getting more mulberry leaves in the next period or next year. There are three basic methods for picking leaves: leaf picking, bud picking, and strip cutting: leaf picking is used for young silkworms or summer and autumn silkworms; bud picking is used for spring silkworms and adult silkworms; strip cutting is to cut mulberry strips with leaves and directly feed silkworms. In late autumn and early winter, pruning (cutting off the tips of branches) can reduce frost damage to mulberry trees and increase germination rate and spring leaf yield.

Before feeding, mulberry leaves should be properly arranged and cut to facilitate feeding. The selection of bad leaves refers to the imitation of imitation, the stacking of leaves, and the weighing of mulberry leaves are called mulberry adjustment. In the early stage of the third instar, because the silkworm body is small, in order to facilitate uniform feeding and easy feeding, mulberry leaves are generally cut into square blocks. In the middle and late third instar, they are changed to rough cutting. The fourth instar uses leaves, and the fifth instar uses leaves and new shoots, or strips.

Haha, I haven't tried it, but theoretically it should be possible. Generally, mulberry leaves can be kept for up to 2 days after being sprinkled with water. It should be more fresh if placed in the refrigerator. It's just that the mulberry leaves are a little cold. But when it's rainy and a little cold, the mulberry leaves picked back are not directly fed to silkworms, so I don't think there is any problem

What to do if you don't have mulberry leaves to raise silkworms?

In addition to mulberry leaves, silkworms can also eat mulberry leaves, elm leaves, fig leaves, wormwood leaves, dandelion leaves, lettuce leaves, etc. Because silkworms are small, in order to feed them evenly and easily, mulberry leaves are generally cut into square blocks. In the middle and late third instar, they are roughly chopped. In the fourth instar, slices are used. In the fifth instar, slices and new shoots, or mulberry strips, are used.

Additional information:

1. To prevent the spread of microbial disease, avoid using super-toxic and unqualified seeds, try to use non-toxic silkworm seeds, purchase seeds through formal channels, and sign a quality assurance contract.

2. If bacterial diseases are found, antibiotics such as chloramphenicol should be added in time. Other diseases such as fungal diseases and viral diseases should be closely monitored once they occur. Sick silkworms should be picked out in time and the silkworm seats should be disinfected daily until the disease is under control.

3. In areas prone to pesticide poisoning and fluoride poisoning, leaf feeding tests should be conducted to analyze the causes, avoid polluting leaves, stay away from pollution sources, or try to use lime water to wash mulberry leaves. If problems occur in large areas, agricultural technology departments should be relied upon to solve or resolve them.

4. Every link of comprehensive prevention and control cannot be ignored. Only by taking it seriously and handling it scientifically can we ensure a good harvest of silkworms to the greatest extent possible.

Reference source: Baidu Encyclopedia - Silkworm

In addition to mulberry leaves, silkworms can eat other foods such as mulberry leaves, elm leaves, fig leaves, wormwood leaves, dandelion leaves, lettuce leaves, etc. Because silkworms are small, in order to feed them evenly and easily, mulberry leaves are generally cut into square blocks. In the middle and late third instar, they are roughly chopped. In the fourth instar, slices are used. In the fifth instar, slices and new shoots, or strips, are used.

Additional information

Silkworm (scientific name: Bombyx mori) is an insect of the order Lepidoptera. It is the main source of silk and plays an important role in human economic life and cultural history. It is native to China and is commonly known as silkworm baby or niangzai in southern China and Taiwan.

Silkworms are metamorphosis insects, the most common of which is the mulberry silkworm, also known as the domestic silkworm, one of the economic insects that feeds on mulberry leaves and spins silk and makes cocoons. The mulberry silkworm originated in China, and its development temperature is 7-40℃, and the optimum temperature for breeding is 20-30℃. Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves, and their bodies turn white after eating mulberry leaves continuously. After a period of rest, they begin to shed their skins. The molting lasts for about a day, and they do not eat or move like sleeping. This is called "hibernation". After molting once, it is the second-instar larvae. It grows one year older each time it molts. The larvae molt four times in total, becoming fifth-instar larvae, and then eat mulberry leaves for 8 days to become mature silkworms, and begin to spin silk and make cocoons.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Silkworm

You can go to Naijing Park or the suburbs to pick them. There are wild mulberry trees in the parks and suburbs. If there are no wild mulberry trees, you can go to the gates of various primary schools. Generally, there will be mulberry leaves for sale during school hours. If there are really no wild mulberry leaves, you can go to the market to buy some celery leaves, which can also be eaten by silkworms! I wish your silkworms good health!

You can go to the suburbs to see that there are many wild mulberry trees. I have picked several bags and even eaten the mulberries!

If you want to keep it at home for fun, you can also use elm leaves, which are relatively easy to find.