2.
Introduction
The main biological force behind the global sericulture sector is the domesticated silkworm,
Bombyx mori. Sericulture is a crucial socioeconomic pillar in Asia, especially in China and
India, where it produces premium silk fibers that sustain millions of rural livelihoods (Guan et
al., 2025).
Bacterial flacherie, which can result in complete crop failure, and shifting environmental
conditions pose serious risks to the industry despite its economic [Link] attention
has recently turned to the "insect microbiome concept." According to this theory, the silkworm is
not a single organism but rather a holobiont, which is a complex ecosystem made up of the host
and the microbial communities that live there (Vasileiadis et al., 2025).
Because microbes act as a "second genome," supporting immune modulation, metabolic
efficiency, and detoxification of secondary metabolites derived from plants, microbiome studies
are essential to understanding silkworm biology. In order to provide a framework for improving
silk productivity through focused microbial interventions, this review attempts to synthesize
current molecular and ecological insights into these interactions.
3. Biology of the Silkworm
3.1 Taxonomy and Life Cycle
Bombyx mori is a member of the Bombycidae family and the order Lepidoptera. It undergoes a
full metamorphosis through four stages as a holometabolous insect: egg, larva, pupa, and adult
moth. The larval stage, which consists of five instars, is the most important window for the
development and succession of the gut microbiota because it is the only stage during which
active feeding takes place. The larval weight increases by almost 10,000 times during these 25–
30 days, necessitating a highly effective and stable microbial community to support such rapid
biomass accumulation (Rong et al., 2023).
3.2 Digestive System Structure and Midgut Physiology
The foregut, midgut, and hindgut make up the specialized linear tube that is the silkworm's
digestive tract. Microbial colonization primarily occurs in the midgut, which is the largest
section. The extremely alkaline environment (pH 9.5 to 11.0) of the silkworm midgut is a
distinguishing feature that serves as a potent selective barrier that inhibits the growth of
numerous environmental bacteria (Li et al., 2021).
Additionally, the peritrophic matrix (PM), a semi-permeable membrane composed of proteins
and chitin, lines the midgut. The PM has two essential functions: it acts as a biological filter
against exogenous pathogens and shields the sensitive midgut epithelium from physical harm
caused by mulberry leaf particles (Li et al., 2021). According to recent studies, there is a
symbiotic structural relationship between the presence of beneficial gut microbiota and the
thickness and permeability of the PM (Li et al., 2021; Guan et al., 2025).
3.3 Nutritional Ecology and the Role of Diet
As a monophagous insect, B. mori only consumes mulberry leaves (Morus spp.). These leaves
supply the crude proteins (roughly 26%) and fats required for the development of silk glands
(Wang et al., 2024).
The main factor influencing the composition of the microbiome is the nutritional value of the
diet. By secreting enzymes like cellulases and proteases that break down complex plant
polysaccharides that the silkworm cannot digest on its own, beneficial bacteria like Enterococcus
and Lactobacillus help the host.
On the other hand, switching from a natural to an artificial mulberry diet frequently results in
dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, which dramatically lowers the cocoon weight and growth rate
(Wang et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024 [International Journal of Molecular Sciences]). This
emphasizes how the biology and microbiome of the silkworm are "tuned" to the mulberry leaf
through evolution.
References
Guan et al. (2025). "Temporal and spatial dynamics of the silkworm microbiota." Scientific Reports.
Vasileiadis et al. (2025). "Selection of Probiotics for Sericulture: A Review." Insects.
Wang et al. (2024). "Nutritional modulation of the gut microbiome in Bombyx mori." Animals.
Rong et al. (2023). "Microbiome succession during larval development." Frontiers in Microbiology.
Li et al. (2021). "The alkaline midgut and peritrophic matrix architecture." Insects. Guan et al. (2025).
"Temporal and spatial dynamics of the silkworm microbiota." Scientific Reports.
Vasileiadis et al. (2025). "Selection of Probiotics for Sericulture: A Review." Insects.
Wang et al. (2024). "Nutritional modulation of the gut microbiome in Bombyx mori." Animals.
Rong et al. (2023). "Microbiome succession during larval development." Frontiers in Microbiology.
Li et al. (2021). "The alkaline midgut and peritrophic matrix architecture." Insects.