The silk moth or mulberry moth Bombyx mori is a butterfly from the family of the true moths Bombycidae originally native to China. The silkworm was domesticated by the wild silk moth Bombyx mandarina which is native to northern India northern China Korea Japan and the far eastern regions of Russia. The domesticated silkworm originated in China rather than Japan or Korea. Humans used the abilities of the silk moth caterpillars the silkworms to produce silk very early on Silkworms were already being bred in China 5000 years ago. Due to the spread of silk production silk cultivation it has also spread outside of its original habitat including in southern Europe. The silkworm is rigged in all limbs.