The silk moth has a four stage lifecycle of egg, larva/caterpillar, pupa/cocoon, and adult moth. Historically, silk production began in ancient China and spread along trade routes, becoming an important economic commodity and influencing many countries. The lifecycle begins with a female silk moth laying hundreds of tiny eggs, which hatch into caterpillars that feed on mulberry leaves and molt. The caterpillars then spin cocoons and undergo metamorphosis to emerge as adult silk moths, restarting the cycle.