Shape change: as the caterpillar turns into butterflies

The fascinating beauty and mystery of the appearance of a beautiful butterfly, as if from a dead sarcophagus - a cocoon, captures the minds of many people. The birth of a new being is always a sight, but when it goes through 3 stages of change, it causes a genuine interest in the process. Modern equipment allows you to see how the caterpillar turns into butterflies.

A bit of history

The history of the appearance of butterflies goes back to the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era. It was at this time that flower plants developed most, which caused the appearance of Lepidopteran insects.

There are species of butterflies found in amber, the Paleogene epoch. They are few than Differ from the modern species of these insects, therefore, as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly today, it also happened millions of years ago.

To date, butterflies - the most numerous species of insects, they have about 160 000 species, and live in the whole planet, except Antarctica.

The first and second stages of butterfly development

The life cycle of this beautiful insect is dedicated to finding a pair, mating and laying eggs. Each species of butterflies has its own time period of transformation from a caterpillar to an adult insect, maximum it can last three years.

Butterfly lays eggs not where anyhow, but specially selects a secluded leaf, where they will be safe. Moreover, they have instincts plant species that are suitable for this. The caterpillar hatching from the egg is not "on its own" leaf, it can pick and choose with food.

After the caterpillar gnaws the egg and gets out, all its actions are food. She begins with the sheet on which she was born, and then goes on. When the population of caterpillars sharply increases, they can cause irreparable damage to forests, fruit trees and even grain crops.

During the existence in the body of the caterpillar, the insect is rapidly gaining weight, so several times it resets tight skin. After the last moult, most often the fourth or fifth, the caterpillar begins to prepare for "hibernation" in the cocoon. Some of them only have a few days to thoroughly refresh themselves, gain strength and nutrients, and pack themselves into a cocoon.

Life in a cocoon

To survive in the period of "inactivity" and defenselessness, the caterpillars find a suitable leaf, branch or tree trunk, to which one can imperceptibly "stick" with a strong silk thread, which they secrete from the abdomen.

To understand how a caterpillar turns into butterflies, one should understand its ability to correctly prepare for it.

Having stuck to the chosen surface, the caterpillar hangs on the silk thread and begins to wrap itself around the calf. This happens gradually, but importantly, when wrapping, the caterpillar gives its cocoon a look like a leaf, a kidney or a stem of the plant it has chosen.

The similarity is so obvious that only a very observant eye can detect a cocoon on its surface. This is done so that the defenseless caterpillar is not found and eaten.

As the caterpillar turns into a butterfly inside the cocoon can be seen, only making shots special equipment in the laboratory. This process is so slow and secretive that it is impossible to observe it in nature.

The reserves, which had time to put a caterpillar in their body, are enough for the forces to metamorphose it into a butterfly.

The publication

The secret of how the caterpillar turns into butterflies, makes scientists each time to study, shoot and fix this moment for inquisitive children and adults.

Usually, the moment of birth of a beautiful insect occurs at sunrise, when it is still not hot, and the plants are dew. The cocoon literally bursts, as if a ripe fruit, and a new creature is gradually being selected from it, this caterpillar turns into a butterfly, pictures clearly show it.

At first the butterfly is very weak, its wings are crumpled and have no elasticity and strength, so it clings to the stem, leaf or branch to "relax," spread and dry the wings. As they straighten out and dry up, they become denser and more elastic. Sometimes a butterfly needs a couple of hours for this.

After the caterpillar turns into butterflies, it changes the "priorities" in life. If at the stage of the larva the main need of its existence was food, then now the purpose of the insect is to continue its genus and start the cycle first. The first thing that a new creature does is to find a partner for fertilization.

Interest in butterflies

Butterflies are deservedly recognized as one of the most beautiful species of insects on the planet. Their amazing transformation from creeping and ever-chewing caterpillars to winged beauties is especially fascinating to children.

Documentary and animated films on the theme "How the caterpillar turns into a butterfly" for children are shot. Perhaps this is a great way to wake up a genuine interest in the world around the child.

Beginning with interest in butterflies, children, subsequently, show interest in other species of fauna and flora. Thus, the child is familiarized with the planet on which he lives, and its inhabitants.