Preparing Silk Biomaterial from Cocoon of Wild Silkmoth Attacus atlas

Abstract

This Article reporting result from research in providing silk from wild silkmoth cocoon of Attacus atlas. The silkmoth is from Indonesia origin. The research was initiated by collecting the silkmoth egg from their real location. The silkmoth eggs were hatched and the larva were introduce with specific leaf that will be use as a a future food. The consideration in selecting leaf for the food is the leaf should from the three that easily and rapid grow also having ingredient that could be useful in drug, pharmacy and medical purpose. It is found the wild silkmoth Attacus atlas are like to consume a herb plant leaf of Erythrina variegate and also Cananga odorata. The cocoon resulting from feeding the caterpillar of Attacus atlas with these 2 type of leaves were obsd. by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and element compns. were detected by using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Different appearance of fiber are obsd. With feeding with Cananga odroata resulting fiber surface covering with cubic crystal that reach with Calcium (Ca) meanwhile feeding with Erythrina variegate resulting fiber without fibrous surface which is rich with clhorine (Cl). [on SciFinder(R)]