The ''Bombyx'' hybrid is a hybrid between a male ''
Bombyx mandarina
''Bombyx mandarina'', the wild silk moth, is a species of moth in the family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of ''Bombyx mori'', the domesticated silk moth. The silkworm is the larva or caterpillar of a silk moth. Unlike the domesticated ...
'' moth and a female ''
Bombyx mori
''Bombyx mori'', commonly known as the domestic silk moth, is a moth species belonging to the family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of '' Bombyx mandarina'', the wild silk moth. Silkworms are the larvae of silk moths. The silkworm is of ...
'' moth. They produce larvae called silkworms, like all species of ''Bombyx''. The larvae look a lot like the other variations. They are brown in the first half and gray at the bottom half, but they get larger black spots than other variations. Generally, they look like a normal ''Bombyx'' moth, but a bit darker. Hybrids are not used for silk, but for research. Because ''Bombyx mori'' males lost their ability to fly, their females are much more likely to mate with a male ''Bombyx mandarina''. The reverse is possible, but both species have to be kept in the same container. Since ''Bombyx'' hybrids are much more common than
the other variation, more is known about them.
''B. mori'' is a domesticated version of the wild ''B. mandarina''. This domestication occurred over 5,000 years ago.
See also
*
''Bombyx'' second hybrid
References
Bombycidae
Hybrid animals
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