Wild Silk - List of Some Wild Silk Moths and Their Silk

List of Some Wild Silk Moths and Their Silk

• Antheraea assamensis (Helfer, 1837). - From Assam. Its silk has a beautiful glossy golden hue which improves with age and washing. Is never bleached or dyed and is stain resistant. Was reserved for the exclusive use of royal families in Assam for 600 years.
• Antheraea mylitta (Drury, 1773). - The "tasar" silkworm.,
• Antheraea pernyi (Guénerin-Méneville, 1855). - the Chinese Tussah Moth. The colour and quality of the silk depends on the climate and soil.
• Antheraea polyphemus. - Has the most potential of any North American silkworms.
• Antheraea yamamai (Guénerin-Méneville, 1861). - The "tensan" silk moth. Has been cultivated in Japan for more than 1000 years. It produces a naturally white silk but does not dye well, though it is very strong and elastic. It is now very rare and expensive.
• Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith, 1797). - "Orange-tipped oakworm moth." North American moth.
• Automeris io. - (Fabricius, 1775). North American moth.
• Bombyx mandarina (Moore). Possible wild form of B. mori.
• Bombyx sinensis - from China. Prolific but small cocoons.
• Callosamia promethea. - North American
• Gonometa postica Walker. - From the Kalahari region.
• Gonometa rufobrunnae Aurivillius. - Feeds on the Mopane tree in southern Africa
• Hyalophora cecropia. - North American. Quality of the silk depends on food source.
• Samia cynthia (Drury, 1773). - The Ailanthus Silkmoth - A somewhat domesticated silkworm from China. Introduced into North America. The eri silkmoth from Assam is a subspecies of this moth (S. cynthia ricini). It produces a white silk which resembles wool mixed with cotton, but feels like silk.