Silk is a natural
protein fiber, some forms of which can be
woven into
textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of
fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the
cocoons of the
larvae of the
mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (
sericulture). The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular
prism-like structure of the silk fibre, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different
angles, thus producing different colors.