Mature
silk worm larvae, ready to spin silk cocoons and pupate, are placed in a special
basket (see image below) with a spiral channels. The baskets are nearly a
meter in diameter and the channel is such a size that the caterpillars space
themselves into a single file.
Here several stages of cocoon spinning can be observed from those just beginning to those nearly done. Again the baskets are kept fabric covered and in a cool, dark place.
This
shows the pupation basket with its spiral channel. The basket is woven of
palm fronds, an example of using local materials in the manufacture of
sophisticated handicrafts. In fact this basket is hanging on a museum
wall.