About Bombyx mandarina Moore, 1872
Bombyx mandarina, commonly known as the wild silk moth, is a moth species that belongs to the family Bombycidae. It is the closest living relative of Bombyx mori, the domesticated silk moth. The caterpillar larvae of both species are called silkworms, which are known for producing fibroinous cocoons that humans harvest to make silk. Unlike its domesticated relative, which has lost the ability to fly and is too closely associated with humans to survive outside of human cultivation, B. mandarina is a fairly typical moth. The main difference between wild B. mandarina and domesticated B. mori is that wild B. mandarina has a more slender body, fully developed wings in males, and a dull greyish-brown body color.
