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Bob Moul | all galleries >> BUTTERFLIES >> SWALLOWTAILS >
Pre-pupal Stage
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12-SEP-2006 Click pic to return to gallery

Pre-pupal Stage

This one has strung-up. It will shed its larva skin within a day or two. Amazing
things are going on inside pre-pupal larvae once they become immobile. They secrete enzymes internally
that literally digest their entire innards into a soup. Then from two imaginal discs of embryonic cells,
small balls of stem cells preserved along the sides of segment A1 or A2, a whole new life form (adult) is created.
It is tucked in compact style. Ecdysone is then secreted, which cleaves off the bottom layer of cuticle from the chrysalis skin.
The chrysalis then wriggles to shed the cuticle and voila (!) it's ready to diapause ... or emerge in 2-3 weeks.


CLICK HERE TO SEE MORPHING FROM CATERPILLAR TO ADULT BUTTERFLY





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