Passion In The Rough

Domestic silk moth, Bombyx mori, Bombycidae

This species was domesticated around 5,000 years ago in order to harvest the silk from its cocoons for human use. It was domesticated from a wild moth species, Bombyx mandarina, but has lost its pigment and ability to fly over years of selective breeding. It is not found in the wild and relies on humans for reproduction due to its inability to fly. Like the giant silk moths in Saturniidae, adults have reduced mouth parts and do not feed. Each cocoon contains 1,000 to 3,000 feet of silk thread, but it takes 2,000 to 3,000 cocoons to make a pound of silk cloth. Globally, billions of cocoons are produced each year.

Many places are removing masking requirements. And I’m here to ask, if you are young and able-bodied, please keep wearing a mask anyways. We’ve known for two years that masks protect others more than they protect yourself, and that masks work when most people are wearing them. If only at-risk individuals are masking, they’re more at risk.