Types of Mulberry for Silkworms

[chamconnect]

Starting a nice silkworm breeding project and I was wondering if anybody has done any experiments with white mulberry leaves vs. red mulberry leaves. Do the plants leaves have different chemicals in them or nutrients? I am going to feed them mainly chow but my neighbor has a huge red mulberry tree which I have already started my own from and I would love to be able to feed them for free, or possibly create my own chow.

Thanks guys! The only reason I ask is because I cannot seem to find anywhere that carries a white mulberry tree for sale in south Florida.

 

[sandrachameleon]

they should eat any kind of mulberry. They also eat dandelion, grape vine leaves, etc.

 

[bbprinting]

Sandra can you get them to eat Dandelion leaves from birth to full grown just like they would Mulberry?

 

[sandrachameleon]

I fed young dandelion leaf pieces to silkworms from 1 week to full grown.

I found that at least 50% of their diet should be mulberry based.

Those I tried to raise entirely on dandelion didnt fair as well as those that got either all mulberry or a combo of 50% or more mulberry (or mulberry chow or a combo of fresh mulberry leaves and chow) in their diet, alongside dandelion etc. The ones that got a mixed diet faired just as well as the ones that got 100% mulberry.

 

[chamconnect]

cool thanks! yeah I threw in the leaves and they started devouring!!