- Why female silk moths only lay eggs on mulberry leaves and lives on mulberry trees ?
Silkworm lay eggs on Mulberry leaves because they have an attraction to the oderant present in mulberry known as cis-jasmone. This oderant cannot be found in any other leaves so they lay eggs only on mulberry. Mulberry leaves support their normal development. If moths are not able to find the mulberry leaves, then they can go to fig or other similar leaves to which they are weakly attracted and feed there to fulfil their requirement of proteins and carbohydrates. Leaves other than mulberry leaves do not support their proper growth. So, eggs will not be properly developed into a normal adult due to absence of their preferred diet.