抄録
We analyzed the rearing and fiber spinning behaviors of Rhodinia fugax and compared them with those of other wild silkworms, namely Antheraea pernyi and Antheraea yamamai. The silkworm’s egg weight was about 1/2 that A. pernyi and 1/3 that of A. yamamai. A single cocoon filament was 16 to 27 μm thick. The spinning loop of the cocoon filament measured 6.5 × 1.8 mm. We observed the structure of the microfibrils on the surfaces of degummed cocoon fibers. The silk fibers had FTIR absorption bands at 1639 cm-1 (amide I) and 1512 cm-1 (amide II); these were attributed to the β-sheet structure. On the differential scanning calorimetry curve of the silk fiber, an endothermic peak appeared at about 76 °C. In addition to minor endothermic peak of the silk fibers at 210 °C, broad endothermic peak appeared at 350 °C, which was attributed to thermal decomposition.
