The sericulture was originated in the province of Shanxi - China, in the Neolithic period, as demonstrated by the discovery of silkworm cocoons dating from 2600-2300 BC. The Chinese domesticated silkworms, Bombyx mori, L. - today considered as the animals most dependent on the care of humans, without which they will not survive. The history of sericulture in the Iberian Peninsula began with the Arab expansion of the 8th century, with a lack of authentic documents regarding the introduction of silkworm and the manufacture of silk fabrics in Portugal; and it practically ended in 1884/5, with the worldwide expansion of artificial fibres.

The traditional techniques of silkworm breeding in Portugal include the definition of the places and equipment used in the insect facilities, as well as the care to be taken with the mulberry leaves used exclusively in the feeding of these insects.

The new technologies include the rearing of breeds of silk production of better quality, as well as the production of mulberries more adapted to food, agriculture, energy production and medicine.

The multiple uses of silkworms are briefly:

(1) the larvae, given the high content of protein, amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins, are being used for food and pharmacology;

(2) pupae are used in cooking and as food for birds and fish, and the oil residue that is extracted from it is used for cosmetics and the feeding of birds, pigs and fish;

(3) butterflies, rich in bioactive ingredients, are used in the textile and pharmaceutical industries;

(4) eggs are used in the pharmaceutical industry;

(5) excreta are used, together with mulberry leaves, for animal feed;

(6) silk, made up of two proteins - fibroin and sericin, is extracted from the cocoons and used in the textile industry, medicine, cosmetics and in the production of biomaterials - tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.