Bombyx mori the larva, sericulture has been criticized by animal welfare and rights activists. Mahatma Gandhi was critical of silk production based on the Ahimsa philosophy "not to hurt any living thing". This led to Gandhi's promotion of cotton spinning machines, an example of which can be seen at the Gandhi Institute. He also promoted Ahimsa silk, wild silk made from the cocoons of wild and semiwild silkmoths. The moth – the adult phase of the lifecycle – is not capable of functional flight, in contrast to the wild "B. mandarina" and other "Bombyx" species, whose males fly to meet females and
Bombyx mandarina directions in a domesticated environment. Consequently, the two silkmoths have been united as subspecies of a single species; in this case the name "Bombyx mori" which was published first applies for both. However, today it is usually recognized that the domesticated silkmoth is entirely dependent on human care for its survival and thus has a level of reproductive isolation from its wild relatives. Bombyx mandarina Bombyx mandarina, the wild silkmoth, is an insect from the moth family Bombycidae. It is the closest relative of "Bombyx mori" the domesticated silkmoth or "silkworm" (properly, this refers to the caterpillars only). Unlike the