Metamorphosis, Sericulture, and Silk Industry Overview

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the biological process of metamorphosis, terms related to silk production (sericulture and moriculture), historical references to silk in India, and the occupational health risks associated with the wool and silk industries.

Metamorphosis

A process seen in insects and frogs that includes $4$ stages in the life cycle: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult.

Moriculture

The process of growing mulberry trees for the purpose of harvesting leaves for silkworms.

Sericulture

The industry and process involving the care of silkworms from hatching eggs to extracting silk from cocoons.

Pupa

The transition phase in the metamorphosis of an insect, occurring between the larvae and adult stages.

Cocoon

A protective casing grown around a silkworm; they are put in boiling water to separate the silk thread during raw silk production.

Ahimsa silk

Silk obtained without harming or killing the silkworms, a method pioneered by Kusma Rajaiha of Andhra Pradesh.

Kousheya (or Kaushika)

A Sanskrit word meaning "silk," derived from "Kosh"; it is mentioned in ancient texts like Suśruta Samhita and Kautilya's Arthasästra.

Kosh

A Sanskrit word meaning "cocoon of silkworm."

Hiuen-Tsang

A Chinese traveller who described Indian silk as "kousheya" or wild silk in his travel diary.

Wild silk

A term used by Hiuen-Tsang to describe Indian silk, which he considered different and inferior to Chinese silk.

Anthrax

A microorganism that sometimes infects wool sorters, causing a fatal disease known as sorter's disease.

Sorter's disease

A fatal disease caused by the microorganism anthrax, which is an occupational hazard in the wool industry.

Orf

A viral disease of the skin transmitted to humans from infected sheep and goats, putting shearers at high risk.

$$10,000$$

The approximate number of silk worms killed to produce one silk saree.

Kusma Rajaiha

An individual from Andhra Pradesh who holds the patent and trademark for ahimsa silk based on his $40$ years of experience.

Silk yarn

The material obtained by spinning raw silk threads, which are then dyed and woven into cloth using looms.