Silkworms Dieing

[Yessabub]

Why is it i cant keep these things alive there in a sterlite tote with a screened lid i feed them every day and the food is never in there for long because they eat it so quick. I ordered 100 about a week and a half ago now im down to like 30 or 40 every time i open it up there tons dead they havent turned black its like they just turn mushy and the paper towel there on has a yellow liquid what is it?

Oops i spelled dieing wrong DYING

 

[pssh]

Take out the ones you have and put them in a new/different sterile container. Sounds like they have a crazy disease that I can't remember the name of. It's pretty nasty when they get it... Clean the heck out of the old container.

 

[Yessabub]

Take out the ones you have and put them in a new/different sterile container. Sounds like they have a crazy disease that I can't remember the name of. It's pretty nasty when they get it... Clean the heck out of the old container.

I already took them all out this morning and cleaned up the container well and replaced the paper towels is this alright? How is the disease caused?

 

[kinyonga]

The disease is grasserie...its "a virus disease of silkworms, characterized by yellowness of the integument and an excessive accumulation of fluid within the body".
Its caused by nuclear polyhedrosis virus...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Polyhedrosis_Virus

There is also another disease that they get mentioned in this site...
http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=19911178771

Here's another article that might be of interest...
http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20053115188

 

[summoner12]

you need to make sure to air out the container.... fresh food should never be place on or near old food that is still moist. if you have sick looking ones, remove them.

where did you get these silks from?