Eri silk comes from the caterpillar of Samia cynthia ricini, found in northeast India. The name “eri” is derived from the Assamese word “era”, which means “castor”, as the silkworm feeds on castor plants. One of the common names, the “Ailanthus silk moth”, refers to the host plant. Eri silk is also known as endi or errandi in India. The woolly white silk is often referred to as the fabric of peace when it is processed without killing the silkworm. This process results in a silk called Ahimsa silk. Moths leave the cocoon and then the cocoons are harvested to be spun. The eri silkworm is the only completely domesticated silkworm other than Bombyx mori.

Eri silk comes from the caterpillar of Samia cynthia ricini, found in northeast India. The name “eri” is derived from the Assamese word “era”, which means “castor”, as the silkworm feeds on castor plants. One of the common names, the “Ailanthus silk moth”, refers to the host plant. Eri silk is also known as endi or errandi in India. The woolly white silk is often referred to as the fabric of peace when it is processed without killing the silkworm. This process results in a silk called Ahimsa silk. Moths leave the cocoon and then the cocoons are harvested to be spun. The eri silkworm is the only completely domesticated silkworm other than Bombyx mori.