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Caterpillar metamorphosis skin#
Caterpillar metamorphosis series#

During nymphosis the chrysalis sheds the larval exuvia, which often remains attached to the bottom of the chrysalis.

Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes a complete metamorphosis called nymphosis, which can take place on a plant or underground, safe from danger. From Greek, chrysalis literally means "small golden object", a particularly apt description in the case of the Inachis io chrysalis. Chrysalis: once the caterpillar has reached its maximum growth stage, it stops feeding and starts looking for a suitable place to carry out its final molt, which will transform it into a chrysalis.

Caterpillar metamorphosis skin#

At this point, by means of some torsional movements, it begins to shed the old skin which, once extracted, is called exuviae. Often, before molting, the caterpillar sticks to a substrate by means of silk threads and starts to ingest plenty of air to increase its internal pressure. At this point, the caterpillar changes "skin" and molts, a process that occurs 2 to 10 times during the larval stage of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).

The caterpillar then starts to grow until, having increased in size, it has to get rid of the cuticle, the outermost part of its outer envelope, as it is not extensible and cannot grow together with the caterpillar itself. After devouring what is left of the egg, the larva begins to eat the plant on which it stands thanks to its strong jaws and highly developed mandibles.

Caterpillar: following maturation, the egg hatches and a small larva emerges from it.

Each female butterfly may lay a different number of eggs and these are generally laid on plant stems or on the top or bottom of leaves, where the female butterfly ensures they are firmly fixed to the substrate by means of a viscous substance secreted by glands in the insect's genital apparatus.

Egg: after mating, adult female butterflies lay their eggs on the leaves of specific host plants, which will provide food for the caterpillars that will emerge from the eggs.

The whole process of butterflies' metamorphosis has four different phases: This biological process of transformation is called metamorphosis.īutterflies are holometabolous insects, meaning they have a complete metamorphosis in which larva and adults have completely different appearances and ecological roles.

Caterpillar metamorphosis series#

A series of fascinating transformations allows the caterpillar to become a butterfly and take on the more common and charismatic appearance we all know.