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Cocoon Forming
Name: Peri
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
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Date: N/A
Question:
How do caterpillars make themselves into a cocoon?
Replies:
Here is a brief description from the page:
http://www.milkweedcafe.com/fascfacts.html
"You will often erroneously hear and read that the adult butterfly emerges
from its cocoon. Moths spin cocoons of silken threads, often using leaves to
help surround themselves.
Caterpillars shed their final skin to reveal a pupa. The outer skin of this
pupa hardens to form a chrysalis which protects and hides the amazing
transformation that is occurring inside."
From the web page:
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ythfacts/4h/unit2/hoigr&cf.htm
"The most complex type of metamorphosis is called complete metamorphosis. It
has four distinct form stages: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. The larval
stages do not look like the adult at all, and they are often worm-like.
Larvae often have different mouth parts and food habits than the adult, and
they often live in places different from the adult. Larvae molt several
times and get a little larger with each molt, but there is no gradual
development of wings or other adult characteristics. When a fully grown
larva molts, it changes into a pupa. The pupa usually does not eat or move
around much, but a lot of internal changes take place. When the pupa has
made all its internal changes, its skin splits and the fully formed adult
emerges. Most insects with complete metamorphosis are winged in the adult
stage. The adults do not molt or grow any more. Little flies or beetles, for
instance, do not grow to become larger."
J. Elliott
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Update: June 2012
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