Abstract: Developed and provided is a method of collecting a large amount of high-quality bagworm silk threads having no contaminant from bagworm nests in a convenient manner and at low cost. The habit of bagworms is utilized to allow a bagworm to build a nest using solvent-soluble substances or thermally meltable substances as nest materials, followed by dissolving or melting the nest materials to separate the nest material from the bagworm silk threads, whereby only pure bagworm silk threads constituting the bagworm nest can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop: a method of efficiently producing a long bagworm silk thread containing no contaminant while preventing a change in the spinning direction and the runaway of the bagworm from a rail, and alleviating a burden on the bagworm; and an apparatus for implementing the thread-producing method. Provided is an apparatus for producing a bagworm silk thread, having a movable rail having a width smaller than the maximum width between the right and left legs of a bagworm and configured to move in the longitudinal direction and to be able to hold with the legs of the bagworm; and a fixator configured to fix a bagworm, wherein the fixator is placed at a position such that the fixed bagworm can hold the movable rail.

Abstract: A simple and efficient breeding method for the bagworm moth is provided, as well as a device for performing the method. Also developed and provided is a method of easily collecting eggs from a bagworm moth, an egg collection device for bagworm moths composed of a tubular container. A bagworm moth breeding method and egg collection method performed using the device are also described.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop a method of producing pure and long bagworm silk threads having no contaminants, such as pieces of leaves and twigs, and a device for implementing the production method. Provided is a method of producing a long bagworm silk thread, the method having a spinning process of making a bagworm having its nest hang its legs on a rail and continuously spin a silk thread along the rail, wherein the rail has a width smaller than the maximum width between the left and right legs when the bagworm used spreads out its legs and wherein the rail is such that the bagworm can hang its legs on the rail, and a collection process of collecting a long silk thread from the rail after the spinning process.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a long bagworm silk thread, the method comprising a spinning process of making a bagworm having its nest hang its legs on a rail and continuously spin a silk thread along the rail, wherein the rail has a width smaller than the maximum width between the left and right legs when the bagworm used spreads out its legs and wherein the rail is such that the bagworm can hang its legs on the rail, and a collection process of collecting a long silk thread from the rail after the spinning process.

Abstract: A thread collecting method for easily and simply collecting a bagworm-derived pure silk thread from a bagworm with a small number of processes and a thread collecting device for implementing the thread collecting method are developed and provided. A device that collects a silk thread from a bagworm is provided, the device including: a container that accommodates the bagworm; and an in-and-out hole through which the bagworm is put in and taken out of the container. A width of a maximum short axis cross section of an inner space of the container is in a range from 1.2 times or more to less than 3.1 times relative to a maximum body width of the bagworm being accommodated.

Abstract: A movement control method and a spinning position control method for a bagworm is provided, in which a bagworm is led to a predetermined position and allowed to spin a foothold silk thread at the predetermined position. A behavior control method in which a light is radiated to a bagworm to lead the bagworm toward a direction from which the light is radiated, and a spinning position control method in which a light is radiated to a bagworm at a spinning position on a surface of a base material to allow the bagworm to spin at the position are also provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having an “elongation” feature in addition to a high strength and a high elastic modulus. Further, an object of the present invention is to address problems of brittleness and peeling in the conventional fiber-reinforced composite materials. A fiber-reinforced composite material containing the bagworm silk thread as reinforcing fibers is provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop: a method of efficiently producing a long bagworm silk thread containing no contaminant while preventing a change in the spinning direction and the runaway of the bagworm from a rail, and alleviating a burden on the bagworm; and an apparatus for implementing the thread-producing method. Provided is an apparatus for producing a bagworm silk thread, having a movable rail having a width smaller than the maximum width between the right and left legs of a bagworm and configured to move in the longitudinal direction and to be able to hold with the legs of the bagworm; and a fixator configured to fix a bagworm, wherein the fixator is placed at a position such that the fixed bagworm can hold the movable rail.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop: a method of efficiently producing a long bagworm silk thread without slack of reeling during collection while preventing a change in the spinning direction and the runaway of the bagworm from a rail, and alleviating a burden on the bagworm; and an apparatus for implementing the thread-producing method. Provided is an apparatus for producing a bagworm silk thread, including: a movable loop-shaped rail configured to move in the longitudinal direction and to be held by the legs of a bagworm; a fixator configured to fix the bagworm; and an adhesion controller configured to store an adhesion control solution for washing away or removing a gummy component from the bagworm silk thread spun on the movable loop-shaped rail, wherein the apparatus makes it possible to cumulate the bagworm silk thread spun on the movable loop-shaped rail.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having a bagworm silk thread(s) as a reinforcing fiber and being isotropic in terms of elastic modulus and strength. A fiber-reinforced composite material having nonwoven fabric(s) including bagworm silk thread as a reinforcing fiber is also provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop: a method of efficiently producing a long bagworm silk thread containing no contaminant while preventing a change in the spinning direction and the runaway of the bagworm from a rail, and alleviating a burden on the bagworm; and an apparatus for implementing the thread-producing method. Provided is an apparatus for producing a bagworm silk thread, having a movable rail having a width smaller than the maximum width between the right and left legs of a bagworm and configured to move in the longitudinal direction and to be able to hold with the legs of the bagworm; and a fixator configured to fix a bagworm, wherein the fixator is placed at a position such that the fixed bagworm can hold the movable rail.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic silkworm that spins bagworm silks and producing a large quantity of bagworm silks by transgenic technology is developed and provided. A gene encoding a modified bagworm Fib H and a transgenic silkworm in which the gene is introduced, wherein the gene is obtained by cloning a gene fragment encoding a bagworm Fib H-like polypeptide comprising a partial amino acid sequence of bagworm Fib H, and fusing the gene fragment to a gene fragment encoding silkworm-derived Fib H, are provided.

Abstract: Developed and provided is a method of collecting a large amount of high-quality bagworm silk threads having no contaminant from bagworm nests in a convenient manner and at low cost. The habit of bagworms is utilized to allow a bagworm to build a nest using solvent-soluble substances or thermally meltable substances as nest materials, followed by dissolving or melting the nest materials to separate the nest material from the bagworm silk threads, whereby only pure bagworm silk threads constituting the bagworm nest can be obtained.

Abstract: A bagworm silk thread spun on a base material was conventionally difficult to be collected, and thus, cannot be utilized. An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a method in which such a bagworm silk thread is peeled off from a base material with a weak force without being damaged and is collected as a thread bundle. Provided is a method for producing a thread bundle of a bagworm silk thread, including: applying, to a bagworm silk thread spun on the surface of a base material, a wetting liquid which presents a liquid form at least in the range of 20° C. or more and less than 30° C. and does not damage, denature, or dissolve the silk thread; and then separating the bagworm silk thread from the base material.

Abstract: Provided is a method developed for producing a thread bundle with high efficiency in terms of spun thread collection and without causing mechanical damage to a foothold silk thread spun by a bagworm onto a base material. After a bagworm is placed along with a solvent-soluble base material and allowed to spin the foothold silk thread onto the surface of the base material, the base material is dissolved with a solvent to separate the foothold silk thread therefrom.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a fiber-reinforced composite material having an “elongation” feature in addition to a high strength and a high elastic modulus. Further, an object of the present invention is to address problems of brittleness and peeling in the conventional fiber-reinforced composite materials. A fiber-reinforced composite material containing the bagworm silk thread as reinforcing fibers is provided.

Abstract: A thread collecting method for easily and simply collecting a bagworm-derived pure silk thread from a bagworm with a small number of processes and a thread collecting device for implementing the thread collecting method are developed and provided. A device that collects a silk thread from a bagworm is provided, the device including: a container that accommodates the bagworm; and an in-and-out hole through which the bagworm is put in and taken out of the container. A width of a maximum short axis cross section of an inner space of the container is in a range from 1.2 times or more to less than 3.1 times relative to a maximum body width of the bagworm being accommodated.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to develop a method of producing pure and long bagworm silk threads comprising no contaminants, such as pieces of leaves and twigs, and a device for implementing the production method. Provided is a method of producing a long bagworm silk thread, the method comprising a spinning process of making a bagworm having its nest hang its legs on a rail and continuously spin a silk thread along the rail, wherein the rail has a width smaller than the maximum width between the left and right legs when the bagworm used spreads out its legs and wherein the rail is such that the bagworm can hang its legs on the rail, and a collection process of collecting a long silk thread from the rail after the spinning process.

Abstract: A method of producing a transgenic silkworm that spins bagworm silks and producing a large quantity of bagworm silks by transgenic technology is developed and provided. A gene encoding a modified bagworm Fib H and a transgenic silkworm in which the gene is introduced, wherein the gene is obtained by cloning a gene fragment encoding a bagworm Fib H-like polypeptide comprising a partial amino acid sequence of bagworm Fib H, and fusing the gene fragment to a gene fragment encoding silkworm-derived Fib H, are provided.