Pupa of the Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

A pupa (Latin pupa for doll, pl: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The cockchafer (colloquially called may bug, billy witch, or spang beetle, particularly in East Anglia) is a European Beetle Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago. Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively An embryo (from Greek:, plural, lit "that which grows" from en- "in" + bryein "to swell be full" is a multicellular A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example In Biology, the imago is the last stage of development of an Insect, after the last Ecdysis of an incomplete metamorphosis, or after emergence (For a list of such insects see Holometabolism). Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four

The pupae of different groups of insects have different names such as chrysalis in the Lepidoptera and tumbler in mosquitoes. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Mosquitoes are insects in the family Culicidae. They have a pair of scaled wings a pair of Halteres, a slender body and long legs Pupae may further be enclosed in other structures such as cocoons, nests or shells. A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring ^[1]

Position in life cycle

In the life cycle of an insect the pupal stage follows the larval stage and precedes adulthood (imago). A life cycle is a period involving 1 Generation of an Organism through means of Reproduction, whether through Asexual reproduction or Sexual A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example For the 2008 British film by Noel Clarke see Adulthood (film. In Biology, the imago is the last stage of development of an Insect, after the last Ecdysis of an incomplete metamorphosis, or after emergence It is during the time of pupation that the adult structures of the insect are formed whilst the larval structures are broken down. Pupae are inactive, and usually sessile (not able to move about). Sessile is a term in Biology with two distinct meanings In botany and medicine In Botany, sessile means "without a stalk They have a hard protective coating and often use camouflage to evade potential predators. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism

Duration

Pupation may be brief, for example 2 weeks as in monarch butterflies, or the pupa may enter dormancy or diapause until the appropriate season for the adult insect (in temperate climates pupae usually stay dormant during winter, in the tropics pupae usually do so during the dry season). The monarch ( Danaus plexippus) is a Milkweed butterfly ( Subfamily Danainae in the family Nymphalidae. Dormancy is a period in an organism's life cycle when growth development and (in animals physical activity is temporarily suspended Diapause is a Physiological state of Dormancy with very specific triggering and releasing conditions The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the Tropics.

Emergence

Insects emerge (eclose) from pupas by splitting the pupal case, and the whole process of pupation is controlled by the insect's hormones. Hormones (from Greek ὁρμή - "impetus" are chemicals released by cells that affect cells in other parts of the body Most butterflies emerge in the morning. In mosquitoes the emergence is in the evening or night. In fleas the process is triggered by vibrations that indicate the possible presence of a potential host. Flea is the Common name for any of the small wingless Insects of the order Siphonaptera (some authorities use the name Aphaniptera Prior to emergence, the adult inside the pupal exoskeleton is termed "pharate". An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human. Once the pharate adult has eclosed from the pupa, the empty pupal exoskeleton is called an "exuvium" (or exuvia); in most hymenopterans (ants, bees and wasps) the exuvium is so thin and membranous that it becomes "crumpled" as it is shed. Exuvia (alternative spelling exuvium, plural exuviae) is a term used in Biology to describe the remains of an Exoskeleton that is left after

Structure

Exarate pupae of the Western honey bee.

In some insect orders the appendages such as legs and proboscis are free and visible in the pupal stage. Such pupae are termed as exarate and examples are seen in the Hymenoptera. Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects comprising the sawflies, Wasps Bees and Ants The name refers to In many others the pupa is a tight and compact shell with all the appendages tightly packed within and these are termed as obtect. The familiar lepidopteran chrysalis is obtect. Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Another form has the appendages visible, but covered within a shell. In some cases the covering is formed by the integument of the last larval instar also known as the puparium. The Brachyceran infraorder Muscomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies containing the bulk of the Brachycera and in fact most of the known Diptera. Such pupae are termed as coarctate and are found in many of the diptera. True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of Some exarate pupae such as those of the neuroptera also have movable mandibles attached to the head. For the obsolete concept of the Neuroptera including Alderflies, Dobsonflies, Fishflies and Snakeflies, see Neuropterida. Such pupae are termed decticous. In most other insects the mandibles are immovable and such pupae are termed adecticous.

Stages of development of the honeybee pupa.

Defense

Pupae are usually immovable and are largely defenseless. To overcome this, a common feature is concealed placement. Some species of Lycaenid butterflies are protected in their pupal stage by ants. The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies Some species of pupae are capable of making sounds or vibrations to scare potential predators. A few species use chemical defenses including toxic secretions. The pupae of social hymenopterans are protected by adult members of the hive. Hymenoptera is one of the larger orders of Insects comprising the sawflies, Wasps Bees and Ants The name refers to

Chrysalis

Common crow (Euploea core) chrysalis illustrating the Greek origin of the term : χρυσός (chrysós) for gold

A chrysalis (Latin chrysallis, from Greek χρυσαλλίς = chrysallís, pl: chrysalides) or nympha is the pupal stage of butterflies. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a The term is derived from the metallic gold-colouration found in the pupae of many butterflies referred to by the Greek term χρυσός (chrysós) for gold. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly

Because chrysalids are often showy and are formed in the open, they are the most familiar examples of pupae. Most chrysalids are attached to a surface by a Velcro-like arrangement of a silken pad spun by the caterpillar and a set of hooks (cremaster) at the tip of the pupal abdomen. Velcro is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners. It consists of two layers a "hook" side which is a piece of Fabric covered with tiny hooks Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis.

Like other types of pupae, the chrysalis stage in most butterflies is one in which there is little movement. However, some butterfly pupae are capable of moving the abdominal segments to produce sounds or to scare away potential predators. Within the chrysalis, growth and differentiation occur. The adult butterfly emerges (ecloses) from this and expands its wings by pumping haemolymph into the wing veins. Hemolymph or haemolymph is the Blood analogue used by all Arthropods and most Mollusks that have an Open circulatory system. ^[2] This sudden and rapid change from pupa to imago is called metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively

When the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, usually it will sit on the empty shell in order to expand and dry its wings. However, if the chrysalis was near the ground (such as if it fell off from its silk pad), the butterfly would find another vertical surface to rest upon and dry its wings (such as a wall or fence).

Moth pupae are usually dark in color and either formed in underground cells, loose in the soil, or their pupa is contained in a protective silk case called a cocoon. A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons

Aurelia is an old synonym of chrysalis from which is derived the term aurelian; one who studies the emergence of butterflies from chrysalids.

Cocoon

The tough brown cocoon of an Emperor Gum Moth

A cocoon is a casing spun of silk by many moth caterpillars and numerous other holometabolous insect larvae as a protective covering for the pupa. The emperor gum moth, Opodiphthera eucalypti, is a species of Moth native to Australia, and can be easily found in all the states except for Tasmania Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Caterpillars are the Larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the Insect order comprising butterflies and Moths Holometabolism, also called complete metamorphism, is a term applied to insect groups to describe the specific kind of insect development which includes four A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example

Cocoons may be tough or soft, opaque or translucent, solid or meshlike, of various colors, or composed of multiple layers, depending on the type of insect larva producing it. Many moth caterpillars shed the larval hairs (setae) and incorporate them into the cocoon; if these are urticating hairs then the cocoon is also irritating to the touch. Seta (plural setae) is a biological term derived from the Latin word for " Bristle " Urticating hairs are one of the primary Defense mechanisms used by some New World Tarantulas and lepidopteran caterpillars Some larvae attach small twigs, fecal pellets or pieces of vegetation to the outside of their cocoon in an attempt to disguise it from predators. Others spin their cocoon in a concealed location - on the underside of a leaf, in a crevice, down near the base of a tree trunk, suspended from a twig or concealed in the leaf litter. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. In Botany, trunk (or bole) refers to the main structural member of a Tree that supports the Branches and is supported by and directly attached Plant litter (sometimes called leaf litter or tree litter) is dead Plant material such as leaves, Bark, and Twigs ^[3]

Insects that pupate in a cocoon must escape from it, and they do this either by the pupa cutting its way out, or by secreting fluids that soften the cocoon. Some cocoons are constructed with built-in lines of weakness along which they will tear easily from inside, or with exit holes that only allow a one-way passage out; such features facilitate the escape of the adult insect after it emerges from the pupal skin.

An Emperor Gum Moth caterpillar spinning its cocoon.	Luna moth cocoon and pupa. The Luna Moth ( Actias luna) is a lime-green, Nearctic Saturniid Moth in the subfamily Saturniinae.	Assortment of Luna moth cocoons.	Luna moth emerging from silk cocoon.
Luna moth pupa removed from cocoon.	Chrysalis of Gulf Fritillary in Georgetown, South Carolina	Pupation of Inachis io	Monarch Butterfly chrysalis

References

See also

• Larva
• Brood (honeybee)
• Silk
• Cocoon