These two rearing baskets are now filled with cocoons taken from the pupal rearing baskets.

The cocoons will now be soaked in hot water to loosen the silk gum, the adhesive the caterpillar used to stick the silk fibers together.

This kills the pupae.  If the adult were allowed to hatch and chew their way out of the cocoon the silk fibers would be broken in the process.  But waste not, the silk worms are eaten. 

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