Metamorphonic

Designing habitats for alternative human-silkworm relationship

Bombyx mori, the domestic silk moth is a species of moth that we have domesticated over 5000 years of silk production. Our relationship with this moth has been always human-centric. The process of silk harvesting has been continually optimised to maximise quality and efficiency. The flightless adult form is thought to be a consequence of this optimisation, and the extraction of silk fibre from their cocoons involves their being boiled. This human-centred practice is an example of how humans exploit non-human species. What kind of relationships could we have with silk moths for kinder and more harmonic cohabitation?