Silkworms are oligotrophic animals, and it is better to use oak leaves for tussah.

Tussah feeds on leaves of Quercus plants in FAGACEAE, such as Quercus acutissima, Quercus mongolica, etc. In addition, they can also eat leaves of a few plants, such as Artemisia, hawthorn, chestnut, maple, pear, apple, etc. Young silkworms like to eat young leaves, while big silkworms like to eat ripe leaves. From hatching to cocoon formation, a silkworm can feed on leaves for about 5-54 days in spring, 3-35g in autumn and 55-5g in autumn. Tussah larvae need to sleep and molt for four times, and molt once every time, increasing by one year, until they are mature enough to spin silk and form cocoons at the fifth age.