Indonesia still imports a lot of silk yarn due to the lack of raw materials to craft cloth. This is the story of one of the efforts to survive a small unit of miracle chains of silkworms (Bombyx mori) from eggs to cloth in Badung Regency, Bali.
Interesting to see silkworm cultivation. Not only does the magic produce beautiful and strong silk thread, this caterpillar teaches about the ability to adapt and balance life. New life after death.
As happened in Sari Segara Silk Agrotourism located in Banjar Lateng, Sibang Kaja, Abiansemal. In the middle of the settlement, the area around 40 acres of mulberry leaf gardens from the front does not look green. The iron gate with balebengong in the corner and the door is tightly closed.
"Fear of dogs coming in," Tri Edy Mursabda, a middle-aged man in his operational manager, welcomed. The atmosphere was quiet, until seen several blocks of animal enclosures such as the Timor Deer, turkeys, and Bali Starlings. An audio visual room is at the front, to welcome groups of students or tourists who want to start a tour to see the magic of this silk yarn spinning worm. They will be presented with introductory and knowledge videos.
There is the largest room with six non-machine looms, canteen-like tables and chairs, and colorful cloth hangers. In glass cabinets there are also hair clips, brooches, headbands, and others.
Tri took an album of books containing photographs that began to blur. The story of the silkworm is recorded here. "We lack the raw material for weaving," he opened his optimism in this silkworm cultivation chain. This explains why at that time, at the end of April, there was only one weaver working to continue weaving each strand of silk into a bluish-red pattern. Other looms are still attached with semi-finished fabrics in red, green, various shades. Waiting for additional thread.
In order to keep the weavers and other workers active, Tri has focused on developing agro-tourism since 2008. He started by preparing mulberry gardens around 40 acres and 10 acres for buildings. Tri said that silkworm breeding is not difficult, it is enough to sow a piece of branch stalk before planting it in the field. For maintenance, old mulberry trees are routinely pruned every 3 months so the branches are not too tall so the leaves are thicker.
The temperature at this location is relatively hot compared to the recommended location of silkworm cultivation between 400-800 meters above sea level. But Tri is optimistic and work around this by reducing the heat of the caterpillar's dining room by installing a blower.
Eggs in the form of eggs are imported from Sopeng, because not every cultivator can breed themselves on the grounds of maintaining quality and preventing disease. "We can produce eggs, but we need tools and experts to check the lab, and others," he explained. In 10 days the eggs will hatch. Tri ordered about 100,000 eggs every 3 months.
Growth from small caterpillars, caterpillar instars get bigger and change skin. They continue to eat mulberry leaves with gusto until 22-25 days. After that, this is the most anticipated step, the metamorphosis becomes cocooned. In this stage the caterpillar does not eat leaves anymore.
The caterpillars are moved to the yellow squares. On day 3, cocoon or cocoon dots have been seen. Caterpillars are seen in a cocoon spun saliva into thin white strands like cotton. With diligence, these rolls are more dense and thick until the caterpillar is no longer visible.
Some caterpillars seem unable to cocoon and die. Seeing this process looks impressive. This worker soldier was diligently spinning in silence. Day 4 cocoon circles are full and ready to be harvested.
