Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Pupa

A pupa (plural: ) is and immobile stage in the life cycle of holometabolous , which undergo complete metamorphosis, positioned between the active larval and reproductive phases; during this non-feeding period, the insect's internal tissues undergo histolysis and histogenesis to reorganize the body into its form, often encased in a protective structure. This stage is characteristic of the superorder Endopterygota, encompassing over 80% of insect species, including orders such as (butterflies and moths), Coleoptera (beetles), (bees, ants, wasps), and Diptera (flies). The pupal stage typically lasts from a few days to several months, depending on the , environmental conditions like and humidity, and whether the pupa is in —a dormant state to overwinter or aestivate. Externally, the pupa appears quiescent and often forms a hardened or silk cocoon for protection against predators and , while internally, larval structures like mouthparts and musculature break down, and adult features such as wings, legs, and genitalia develop from imaginal discs. Upon completion, the adult ecloses by splitting the pupal case and expanding its wings, a process that can take hours as the hardens. Insect pupae are classified into three main morphological types based on the positioning of appendages and protective coverings: obtect pupae, where legs, wings, and antennae are appressed and glued to the body, forming a compact structure often called a chrysalis in butterflies; exarate pupae, with appendages free and extended from the body, typical in exposed or cocoon-protected forms like those of beetles and bees; and coarctate pupae, which resemble exarate but are enclosed within the hardened last larval skin (puparium), as seen in flies. These variations reflect adaptations to different habitats and lifestyles, with obtect forms common in Lepidoptera for aerial protection, and coarctate in soil-dwelling Diptera for durability. Notable examples include the chrysalis of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which hangs exposed and transforms over 8–15 days in temperate conditions, and the puparium of house flies (Musca domestica), buried in moist soil for 3–6 days before emergence. In social like honeybees (Apis mellifera), pupae develop within wax cells, contributing to colony reproduction and taking about 12 days from to worker . The pupal stage's vulnerability underscores its ecological role, as it bridges larval herbivory and or predation, influencing in terrestrial ecosystems.

Overview and Role in Development

Definition and Characteristics

The pupa is the third developmental stage in the holometabolous metamorphosis of insects, succeeding the larval stage and preceding the emergence of the adult imago. This stage is characteristic of the Endopterygota superorder, encompassing orders such as Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (bees, ants, and wasps), and Diptera (flies). During pupation, the insect transitions from a feeding, motile larva to a non-feeding, largely immobile form focused on internal restructuring. Key features of the pupa include its quiescent nature, with minimal or no locomotion in most species, as larval muscles dissolve prior to the formation of adult musculature. The body is compact, with segments closely apposed and imaginal appendages—such as legs, wings, and antennae—folded tightly against the body or within protective pockets. Pupae typically cease feeding entirely, possessing reduced or non-functional mouthparts, and are often enclosed in a hardened or external case, such as a in some , for protection during vulnerability. In contrast to hemimetabolous , which lack a pupal stage and exhibit gradual external changes from to , the pupa represents a distinct resting enabling complete reorganization in holometabolous forms. Basic anatomy includes the development of structures from imaginal discs—clusters of undifferentiated cells that form wings, limbs, and other features—and, in certain species, a fusion of the head and into a .

Position in the Life Cycle

The pupa occupies a central position in the life cycle of that undergo complete metamorphosis, or holometaboly, serving as the quiescent stage that bridges the larval phase of feeding and growth with the phase of reproduction and dispersal. In this developmental sequence, the hatches into a specialized for nutrient acquisition and body mass increase, after which the larva enters the pupal stage for internal reorganization before eclosing as the , or , which prioritizes , oviposition, and environmental exploration. This four-stage progression—, , pupa, and —characterizes over 80% of species, underscoring the pupa's role as an obligatory intermediary in holometabolous development. The evolutionary advent of the pupal stage enabled radical shifts in , allowing worm-like, feeding-focused larvae to transform into structurally diverse adults, such as those with wings or specialized sensory organs, thereby promoting ecological and . Fossil evidence indicates that holometaboly, including the pupa, first appeared approximately 310 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian subperiod (late ). By comparison, with incomplete metamorphosis, termed hemimetaboly, bypass the pupal stage entirely, progressing through eggs that hatch into nymphs resembling miniature adults and undergoing gradual, incremental changes across multiple instars without a dedicated restructuring phase. This hemimetabolous pattern, seen in groups like orthopterans and hemipterans, contrasts sharply with holometaboly by limiting morphological discontinuity and emphasizing progressive development toward adulthood.

Physiological Processes

Formation and Hormonal Regulation

The formation of the pupa in holometabolous is initiated during the final larval through a precisely timed molting process known as pupation, which transforms the larval body into a non-feeding, immobile preparatory for adult emergence. This transition is triggered by a decline in (JH) titers from the corpora allata glands, which normally maintain the larval state by preventing metamorphic . Concurrently, the brain secretes prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), stimulating the prothoracic glands to release , which is rapidly converted to the active form (20E). The rise in 20E levels, in the absence of JH, commits epidermal and cells to pupal development, marking the onset of . Apolysis, the initial step in pupal formation, involves the separation of the old larval from the underlying , facilitated by 20E-induced of molting enzymes such as chitinases and proteases. Following apolysis, the secretes a new, unsclerotized pupal beneath the detached larval one, which is later shed during . This hormonal cascade is tightly regulated: low permits 20E to bind nuclear ecdysone receptors (EcR), activating early genes like Broad-Complex (BR-C), a essential for pupal-specific and remodeling. BR-C isoforms, such as Z1, are expressed in response to the first 20E pulse, suppressing larval traits while promoting pupal commitment without inducing . Recent studies using have elucidated the role of receptors in timing pupation, revealing that disruptions to EcR or downstream factors like E93 delay or arrest the process, leading to retention of larval tissues and incomplete . For instance, in the yellow fever mosquito (), CRISPR knockout of E93 results in pupae that eclose but retain larval tissues and die during the pupal stage, underscoring EcR's control over developmental timing via gene cascades. Additionally, environmental factors such as climate warming can disrupt this regulation; elevated temperatures in urban heat islands alter 20E titers during the prepupal stage, potentially advancing or desynchronizing pupation and affecting synchrony with host plants or predators in species like the . These insights highlight the sensitivity of hormonal pathways to abiotic stressors, with implications for insect under .

Internal Metamorphosis

During the pupal stage, internal metamorphosis in holometabolous involves extensive histolysis, the programmed breakdown of larval tissues to recycle nutrients for adult development. Larval muscles, such as the dorsal external oblique muscles (DEOMs) in , undergo triggered by signaling through the ecdysone receptor isoform B1, which activates cell-autonomous death pathways involving . Similarly, the larval histolyzes via a combination of and , initiated by an early pulse that upregulates genes like those encoding and autophagic proteins. The also experiences selective histolysis, with many larval neurons pruned through caspase-mediated to clear space for adult circuitry. Complementing histolysis, histogenesis drives the formation of adult structures from clusters of undifferentiated cells known as imaginal discs, which proliferate and differentiate during pupation. In , wing imaginal discs evaginate and expand dramatically, transforming from folded sacs into flat epithelial sheets through oriented and migration, regulated by signaling pathways such as Wingless (Wg, a Wnt homolog) for proliferation along disc margins and Decapentaplegic (Dpp, a homolog) for patterning and growth control across the disc. These pathways interact dynamically; for instance, Dpp signaling represses Wg expression in central regions via transcription factors like Dorsocross, ensuring balanced disc expansion. Leg and eye discs follow analogous processes, with Wg and Dpp coordinating histoblast proliferation to form segmented appendages and ommatidia, respectively. Organ remodeling extends to vital systems, adapting them for adult function without external feeding, relying instead on larval reserves mobilized during histolysis. The brain undergoes profound rewiring, where larval circuits are partially dismantled via of and Kenyon cells, while surviving neurons extend new processes to form adult-specific connections, such as in olfactory and circuits. This remodeling repurposes larval neurons for adult behaviors, with aiding local neurite to refine connectivity. Concurrently, Malpighian tubules—the renal organs—are remodeled by renal stem cells (RSCs) that partially activate during pupation to replace larval principal cells near the gut junction, with further remodeling in adults enhancing stone resistance and ion transport efficiency. The tubules shut down physiologically during early pupation, losing microvilli, before RSC-driven regeneration restores functionality. Recent research highlights additional layers of in pupal . Post-2020 studies show that the pupal influences efficiency, with gut like species delaying pupation rates by influencing host immune responses and dynamics, while their reduction can accelerate the transition. In and other , turnover during pupation reshapes community composition, supporting resource reallocation for histogenesis. Advances in live imaging have revealed the dynamic unfolding of imaginal discs; for example, time-lapse of pupae captures wing disc evagination as a coordinated epithelial unfolding driven by actomyosin contractility, occurring over hours post-pupariation. Such techniques also document real-time cell rearrangements in notum regions, where crowding triggers to limit .

Duration and Emergence

The duration of the pupal stage in varies widely across species and is heavily influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature, , and photoperiod. In many dipterans like the (Musca domestica), the pupal period typically lasts 3-6 days under optimal warm conditions, allowing rapid development to adulthood. In contrast, certain , such as the warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile), can experience delayed pupation due to larval extending up to 2 years. Higher temperatures generally accelerate pupal development and shorten the overall duration, while lower or shorter photoperiods can extend it by inducing metabolic slowdowns. Diapause represents a key mechanism extending pupal duration, occurring as either obligatory (mandatory for the species, often one generation per year) or facultative (environmentally induced) dormancy to overwinter or avoid harsh conditions. It is commonly triggered by short day lengths (photoperiods) signaling seasonal change, leading to suppressed metabolic activity and halted histolysis or . For instance, in the (Ostrinia nubilalis), facultative pupal can last several months under short-day conditions at moderate temperatures, enabling survival until spring. Warmer climates may shorten non-diapausing pupal stages but paradoxically increase risks by altering photoperiod cues or inducing estival (summer) in some species, as observed in the oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta), where high temperatures prolong the pupal phase. Emergence, or eclosion, marks the end of the pupal stage, involving enzymatic degradation of the pupal cuticle followed by adult expansion. Chitinases, such as those in the insect chitinase family (e.g., CHT5 in beetles), are secreted to soften and break down the chitinous pupal exoskeleton, facilitating the adult's exit. Once free, the adult insect pumps hemolymph into its wings and body under increased pressure generated by abdominal contractions, expanding and hardening the new cuticle within minutes to hours. Eclosion timing is often synchronized to minimize predation, with many butterflies emerging at dawn when visibility is low and predators are less active.

Behaviors and Defenses

Defensive Adaptations

Pupae, being immobile and vulnerable during metamorphosis, employ a range of physical defenses to evade detection by predators. Cryptic coloration is prevalent, allowing pupae to blend seamlessly with their environment; for instance, swallowtail butterfly (Papilio spp.) pupae exhibit green or brown hues that mimic twigs or leaves, enhancing survival against visually hunting birds. Immobility further reinforces this camouflage, as pupae remain stationary to resemble inert plant parts. Chemical defenses in pupae often build on larval strategies, involving both sequestration of hostplant toxins and endogenous synthesis. Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) pupae sequester cardenolides acquired during the larval stage from milkweed (Asclepias spp.), rendering them toxic to avian predators and thereby deterring attacks. In contrast, some beetle pupae synthesize alkaloids de novo. These compounds are stored in hemolymph and exuded as a reflexive defense, highlighting the pupal stage's reliance on pre-formed chemical armaments. Behavioral and social adaptations compensate for pupal immobility, particularly in species with symbiotic interactions. Myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly pupae benefit from ant tending, where attendant ants (Crematogaster spp.) aggressively defend the pupae against predators and parasitoids, improving survival rates in ant-colonized habitats. Acoustic signaling serves as another mechanism; pupae of some Hymenoptera and lycaenids produce substrate-borne vibrations via stridulation to alert tending ants or startle potential predators, modulating ant attendance and deterring attacks. Recent research post-2020 has illuminated how environmental stressors impact these defenses. In tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) pupae, mechanical disturbance via vibrations triggers sex-specific behavioral responses such as twitching and pulsating, with males exhibiting more frequent and prolonged reactions. These findings emphasize the need for integrated approaches to understand pupal resilience amid global environmental shifts.

Reproductive Behaviors

In certain species of , such as butterflies in the Heliconius, pupal mating occurs where males copulate with females immediately upon or during their emergence from the pupal case, a first documented in the late . This facultative strategy is observed sporadically; for instance, in , field studies recorded only two instances among 11 emerging females, with males patrolling host plants like species to locate pupae using chemical cues from the plants and potentially from the pupae themselves. Females in these species store received during pupal in a , allowing them to fertilize eggs post-emergence without further copulation, as evidenced by high mating success rates (19 out of 20 recaptured virgin females were found mated). Pupal is facilitated by sex pheromones emitted from female pupae in some moths, which arrest and attract patrolling males prior to adult eclosion. In the Cydia pomonella, female pupae release pheromones that draw males to the site, enabling pre-emergence copulation and reducing post-eclosion mate-searching risks. Calling behaviors during the pupal stage are less common but include vibrational signals in select species; for example, some lepidopteran pupae produce substrate-borne vibrations to signal readiness or deter rivals, though these are primarily documented in adult contexts and extended to pre-emergence interactions in low-mobility pupae. Silk pheromones, deposited on pupal cocoons by some moths, may also aid in mate location by providing persistent chemical trails that males detect near emergence sites. Parthenogenesis in the pupal stage, known as pupal pedogenesis, is a rare reproductive mode observed in certain , particularly gall midges of the family (Diptera), where unfertilized eggs develop within the pupa into larvae that emerge viviparously. This process allows reproduction without fertilization, often in isolated or low-density conditions, and involves endosomatic development of reproductive structures inside the pupal body, leading to the mother's death upon offspring emergence. The evolutionary advantages of pupal mating include securing mates in sparse populations by enabling males to monopolize emerging females on predictable host plants, thereby increasing reproductive success amid high larval mortality and asynchronous eclosion.

Classification and Variations

General Morphological Types

Pupae are primarily classified into three morphological types based on the configuration of appendages and protective structures: exarate, obtect, and coarctate. In exarate pupae, the appendages—such as legs, wings, and antennae—are free and not fused to the body wall, allowing for a more adult-like appearance and limited voluntary movement. This type is prevalent in orders like Coleoptera (beetles) and Hymenoptera (such as bees and wasps). In obtect pupae, the appendages are appressed and glued to the body, forming a compact structure often seen in exposed forms. This type is common in Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and some Diptera (flies). In contrast, coarctate pupae are enclosed within the hardened larval exoskeleton (puparium), which conceals the typically exarate appendages of the internal pupa and provides enhanced protection during vulnerable stages. A secondary classification distinguishes pupae by mouthpart structure: decticous and adecticous. Decticous pupae possess functional, articulated mandibles that enable the pupa to bite or chew its way out of enclosures, facilitating escape and reflecting a more active phase. These are always exarate and occur in basal , such as sawflies (e.g., Arge pagana in Argidae). Adecticous pupae, conversely, have reduced or non-functional mandibles, relying instead on other mechanisms like silk-dissolving enzymes or external aids for emergence, and are typically immobile. This type is widespread in advanced , including moths. These morphological types carry functional implications tied to their and development. Exarate pupae's free appendages permit slight repositioning or defensive responses, aiding in exposed environments, while obtect forms prioritize compactness for aerial or silk-protected contexts, and coarctate forms emphasize for in concealed or soil-dwelling habitats. Distributionally, exarate pupae dominate in Coleoptera and most , coarctate pupae are characteristic of Diptera (higher flies), and obtect forms prevail in . Evolutionarily, decticous pupae represent the primitive condition, with adecticous forms derived secondarily, though direct evidence for transitional hybrids remains limited.

Specific Enclosing Structures

In the pupal stage of many , particularly , the chrysalis serves as a distinctive enclosing structure, consisting of a naked, obtect pupa that is externally hardened without . This form arises from the sclerotization process of the larval , where the outermost layers tan and rigidify following apolysis, providing a protective shell for . The chrysalis is secured to a , often a or , via the cremaster—a specialized, hook-like at the posterior abdominal end that anchors it firmly..pdf) Emergence of the adult occurs when the splits the chrysalis along a weakened seam, allowing the to extricate itself and expand its wings. Cocoons represent another specialized pupal enclosure, primarily constructed by larvae of various moths in the and certain in the Coleoptera, through the and weaving of silk glands into a multilayered protective case. These structures incorporate crystals embedded within the matrix, which significantly bolster tensile strength and puncture resistance, adapting the cocoon to withstand predation and environmental pressures. Adult moths typically escape the cocoon by exploiting pre-formed exit valves in the or by secreting proteolytic enzymes, such as cocoonase, that selectively degrade the sericin protein binding the fibers. In Diptera, such as houseflies (Musca domestica), the puparium forms a robust, barrel-shaped case from the tanned and contracted final larval , encasing the coarctate pupa and the for protection. Prominent respiratory horns project from the anterior end through specialized slits in the puparium wall, enabling tracheal while minimizing exposure. Post-2020 biomechanical analyses have highlighted the puparium's capacity to endure compressive forces, with its layered, sclerotized distributing stress to safeguard internal tissues during or handling. These enclosing structures exhibit notable variations in construction and function: chrysalides depend on direct sclerotization of the pupal for rigidity without extrinsic materials, contrasting with the externally fabricated of cocoons; puparia, meanwhile, repurpose the larval into a seamless, hardened barrel. Not all pupae require such enclosures, as seen in exarate pupae of many (Coleoptera), which are often placed in earthen cells or remain exposed in soil habitats without additional casings.

References

  1. [1]
    Complete Metamorphosis in Insects - Ask A Biologist
    Pupa: resting stage during which tissues are reorganized from larval form to adult form. The pupa is the third body form in the life cycle of insects that ...
  2. [2]
    Entomology for Master Gardeners: Part 2
    All of them have larval immature stages and pupal stages. This means that every beetle in the world, for instance, begins life as an egg, lives as a larva for ...
  3. [3]
    Butterfly Life Cycle - Florida Museum of Natural History
    Nov 8, 2023 · Pupa Stage: When the caterpillar has grown enough, it finds a protected spot, molts for the last time, and forms an encasement in which they ...
  4. [4]
    Morphogenesis – ENT 425 – General Entomology
    Pupal Types · Obtect (Chrysalis) · Exarate (No common name) · Coarctate (Puparium) · More about entomology.
  5. [5]
    [PDF] entomology-insects-britannica.pdf - College of Agricultural Sciences |
    Mar 13, 2023 · The three types of pupae are: obtect, with appendages more or less ... Among holometabolous insects the pupa develops in the presence ...
  6. [6]
    Insect Growth and Development | WSU Tree Fruit
    The larva goes through a series of stages, finally transforming into a pupa before becoming an adult. The pupa does not feed and is usually inactive. Many ...Missing: scientific | Show results with:scientific
  7. [7]
    File: <insect metamorphosis
    In obtect pupae wing and leg cases are merged with the body wall, e.g. most Lepidoptera and Diptera. In the specialized Diptera the last larval skin is ...
  8. [8]
    [PDF] insect metamorphosis - Smithsonian Institution
    It may be questioned, however, that the coccid pupa is com- parable to the pupa of the higher holometabolous insects. The pres- ence of two pupal stages ...
  9. [9]
    Insects with Complete Metamorphosis | Department of Entomology
    This life history typically has an egg, several larval instars, a pupa, and a final winged adult that is sexually mature. Unlike insects with incomplete or ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition
  10. [10]
    The evolution of insect metamorphosis: a developmental and ...
    Aug 26, 2019 · The evolution of the pupal stage and of imaginal discs. (a). Origins of the imaginal primordia. The simplest transition from larva to pupa is ...1. Introduction · (a). Developmental... · 5. Genetic Circuits...
  11. [11]
    Investigating the origin of insect metamorphosis - PMC - NIH
    Dec 21, 2023 · Insects have three basic types of life cycle: ametaboly (no metamorphosis), hemimetaboly (gradual metamorphosis), and holometaboly (complete ...
  12. [12]
  13. [13]
  14. [14]
    CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Uncovers the Mode of Action of ...
    Dec 12, 2022 · The hindgut in control pupae at 12 h after pupation showed smaller ... However, no effect was observed on the expression ecdysone receptor ...
  15. [15]
    CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Editing Uncovers the Mode of ... - PubMed
    Nov 14, 2022 · The E93 mutant pupae retained larval tissues similar to methoprene-treated insects. These insects completed pupal ecdysis and died as pupa.
  16. [16]
    Ecdysteroid responses to urban heat island conditions during ...
    The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) controls molting in arthropods. The timing of 20E production, and subsequent developmental transitions, ...
  17. [17]
    Ecdysone signaling at metamorphosis triggers apoptosis of ... - NIH
    We find that ecdysone signaling through Ecdysone receptor isoform B1 is required cell autonomously for the muscle death.
  18. [18]
    Thin is required for cell death in the Drosophila abdominal muscles ...
    Jul 3, 2018 · While salivary gland histolysis is mediated by both apoptosis and autophagy, midgut histolysis is triggered by the early ecdysone pulse and is ...
  19. [19]
    Programmed cell death reshapes the central nervous system during ...
    The most prominent metamorphic changes seen in holometabolous insects involve destruction of most larval structures and concomitant generation of adult ones.<|separator|>
  20. [20]
    The wing imaginal disc - PMC - PubMed Central
    Dpp signaling also leads to local repression of Wg expression through upregulation of Dorsocross (Doc) transcription factors. This results in lower levels of Wg ...
  21. [21]
    Decapentaplegic signaling regulates Wingless ligand production ...
    Dec 9, 2019 · We describe a novel mode of Dpp-Wg crosstalk during Drosophila wing development. We show that the canonical Dpp signaling is required for Wg target gene ...
  22. [22]
    A unified mechanism for the control of Drosophila wing growth by ...
    Development of the Drosophila wing—a paradigm of organ development—is governed by 2 morphogens, Decapentaplegic (Dpp, a BMP) and Wingless (Wg, a Wnt).<|separator|>
  23. [23]
    Metamorphosis of memory circuits in Drosophila reveals a strategy ...
    Jan 25, 2023 · The larvae of metamorphic insects, by contrast, not only have fewer neurons to make their brain, but these neurons include only those with early ...
  24. [24]
    Astrocyte-dependent local neurite pruning and Hox gene-mediated ...
    Dec 6, 2023 · Abstract. Neuronal remodeling is extensive and mechanistically diverse across the nervous systems of complex metazoans.
  25. [25]
    Drosophila renal stem cells enhance fitness by delayed remodeling ...
    May 20, 2022 · Wang, A. C. Spradling, An abundant quiescent stem cell population in Drosophila Malpighian tubules protects principal cells from kidney stones.
  26. [26]
    Physiology, Development, and Disease Modeling in the Drosophila ...
    Although the tubule physiologically shuts down during pupation (as evidenced by loss of apical microvilli), it does not undergo extensive remodeling from larva ...Missing: rewiring | Show results with:rewiring
  27. [27]
    Population Dynamics of Intestinal Enterococcus Modulate Galleria ...
    Jun 26, 2023 · Role of gut microbiota during metamorphosis. The transition of gut microbiota accelerates the pupation rate. Antimicrobial peptide ...Missing: post- | Show results with:post-
  28. [28]
    Complete metamorphosis and microbiota turnover in insects
    Aug 30, 2022 · Our results support the idea that pupation offers the opportunity to change the gut microbiota and hence might facilitate ecological niche shifts.
  29. [29]
    Real-Time In Vivo Imaging of the Developing Pupal Wing Tissues in ...
    Mar 28, 2019 · In butterflies and moths, the wing imaginal discs expand upon pupation to form the pupal wings that constitute the dorsal and ventral epithelia ...
  30. [30]
    Cell dynamics underlying oriented growth of the Drosophila wing ...
    Dec 1, 2017 · The Drosophila larval wing imaginal disc is a powerful model system in which to study the integration of diverse types of regulatory cues for ...
  31. [31]
    House Fly Life Cycle: Eggs, Pupae, Reproduction, & Stages | Orkin
    The house fly life cycle includes egg, maggot (larvae), pupae, and full-grown fly stages. Pupae develop legs and wings in 3-6 days.
  32. [32]
    WAREHOUSE BEETLE Trogoderma variabile Ballion
    Diapausing larvae may delay pupation for as long as 2 years. If a larva does not diapause, it requires approximately 34 days to pupate. Males generally ...
  33. [33]
    Temperature during pupal development affects hoverfly ...
    Oct 24, 2023 · We found that higher rearing temperature led to shorter pupal duration (Figure 2a). In addition, pupal rearing at 17°C gave higher eclosion ...
  34. [34]
    [PDF] Decoding insect diapause: Insights into physiology, environment ...
    Jun 20, 2025 · The duration and likelihood (incidence) of diapause in offspring can be strongly influenced by the environmental conditions experienced by the ...
  35. [35]
    Molecular Regulation of Insect Diapause - ScienceDirect
    For insects entering an overwintering diapause short daylength is the most common cue used to program diapause. The short days of late summer and early ...
  36. [36]
    Summer diapause induced by high temperatures in the oriental ...
    Jun 7, 2016 · Summer diapause in Helicoverpa assulta (Hübner), which prolongs the pupal stage, particularly in males, is induced by high temperatures.
  37. [37]
    Functional specialization among insect chitinase family genes ... - NIH
    Apr 24, 2008 · One chitinase, TcCHT5, was found to be required for pupal–adult molting only. A lethal phenotype was observed when the transcript level of ...
  38. [38]
    Transient use of hemolymph for hydraulic wing expansion in cicadas
    Apr 18, 2023 · When winged insects eclose into adults, their wings unfold, actuated hydraulically by hemolymph. Flowing hemolymph in the wing is necessary for ...
  39. [39]
    Adult : Emergence and Feeding - Learn Butterflies
    Most butterflies emerge shortly after dawn. The spiracles of the butterfly within the pupa are linked by short tubes to the spiracle openings on the pupa shell.
  40. [40]
    Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Pupal Protective Color Switch in ...
    Mar 5, 2020 · Pupae of many butterfly species belonging to the families Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalid, and Lycaenid exhibit pupal cryptic colors ...
  41. [41]
    Antipredator strategies of pupae: how to avoid predation in an ...
    Aug 26, 2019 · The silk cocoon can protect them against predators and parasitoids, but also protect against desiccation or microparasites [67,68]. The silk ...
  42. [42]
    Sex and stress modulate pupal defense response in tobacco ...
    Pupal defenses in other species also include the building of cases, presence of hairs and spines around pupa, and covering of cocoon with calcium crystals ( ...
  43. [43]
    Lipids as a key element of insect defense systems - Frontiers
    The key factor in insect resistance to fungal infection is the presence of certain types of lipids (free fatty acids, waxes or hydrocarbons) which can promote ...<|separator|>
  44. [44]
    Why Milkweed? - Monarch Joint Venture
    This shows that monarchs are able to store cardenolides that they ingest as larvae. The cardenolides obtained from milkweed make monarchs toxic to many ...
  45. [45]
    Cardenolides, toxicity, and the costs of sequestration in the ... - PNAS
    Apr 13, 2021 · The monarch's typical >50-fold enhanced resistance to cardenolides compared with sensitive animals was absent for voruscharin, suggesting highly ...Missing: pupae | Show results with:pupae
  46. [46]
    [PDF] the Defense Alkaloid of the Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis ...
    Their defense compound, which is synthesized de novo, is harmonine ((R)-5). (R)-5 displays not only interesting ecological functions but also several ...
  47. [47]
    Protective Benefits of Tending Ants to a Critically Endangered Butterfly
    Dec 12, 2022 · Ants provide protection to various organisms via myrmecophilous relationships. Most notably, ants and several butterfly species are involved ...
  48. [48]
    Survival Sounds in Insects: Diversity, Function, and Evolution
    The mechanisms of defensive sound production include stridulation, percussion, tymbalation, tremulation, and forced air. Signal characteristics vary between ...
  49. [49]
    Acoustics, context and function of vibrational signalling in a lycaenid ...
    A pupa may use calls to regulate levels of its attendant ants and to signal its potential value in these mutualistic interactions. Therefore substrate-borne ...
  50. [50]
    Chemical tactic of facultative myrmecophilous lycaenid pupa to ...
    Nov 16, 2018 · argyrognomon to prevent ants from attacking their pupae. However, the effects are not thoroughgoing but depend on the attending ant species.
  51. [51]
    Varied Effects of Tending Ant Species on the Development of ... - MDPI
    Ants often tend and protect the larvae of various myrmecophilous lycaenid species, which influences the fitness of butterflies by altering their growth and ...
  52. [52]
    Facultative pupal mating in Heliconius erato - PubMed Central - NIH
    Jan 13, 2018 · First described in the late 1800s, pupal mating occurs when male butterflies copulate with females as they emerge from the pupal case (Deinert, ...
  53. [53]
    Facultative pupal mating in Heliconius erato: Implications for mate ...
    Jan 13, 2018 · First described in the late 1800s, pupal mating occurs when male butterflies copulate with females as they emerge from the pupal case (Deinert, ...INTRODUCTION · METHODS · RESULTS · DISCUSSION
  54. [54]
    A New Classification of Insect Pupae - Hinton - 1946
    A New Classification of Insect Pupae. H. E. Hinton PH.D.,. H. E. Hinton PH.D ... (1946a) Concealed phases in the metamorphosis of insects. Nature, 157 ...
  55. [55]
    Pupa and Puparium - ScienceDirect.com
    There are two basic kinds of pupae, exarate and obtect. An exarate pupa has free appendages. An obtect pupa has the appendages adhering to the body wall. Most ...
  56. [56]
    Morphology of the immature stages of Arge pagana (Panzer, 1798 ...
    The exarate and decticous pupae are yellow, taking the shape of the adults. This species completes four generations per year, overwintering as prepupae in ...
  57. [57]
    [PDF] Chemical and Molecular Composition of the Chrysalis Reveals ...
    ... larval cuticle of the blowfly species C. ... Photographs present caterpillars preparing to form a chrysalis, formed chrysalides, butterfly emerged near to ...
  58. [58]
    [PDF] Insect Morphology and Systematics
    Eg: moth pupa. a) Chrysalis: It is the naked obtect pupa of butterfly. It is angular and attractively coloured. The pupa is attached to the substratum by ...
  59. [59]
    [PDF] Butterfly Garden - Insect Lore
    The butterfly will climb out of the split chrysalis with soft, crumpled wings and then ... A few hours after emergence, your butterflies will be fully formed and ...
  60. [60]
    [PDF] Bioactive Secondary Metabolites of Wild Antheraea mylitta Silkworm ...
    Scanning Electron Micrograph of calcium oxalate crystals on Antheraea mylitta cocoons. Figure 3. Antheraea mylitta Silkworm cocoon spinning. Page 4. Moths and ...
  61. [61]
    [PDF] Silk Beyond Fabric: Exploring the Diversity of Tasar Byproducts
    Cocoonase is a proteolytic enzyme exuded by sericigenous insects during pupal-adult metamorphosis, which softens the cocoon to allow the moth to emerge. This ...Missing: multilayered | Show results with:multilayered
  62. [62]
    [PDF] (DIPTERA-CYCLORRHAPHA-MUSCIDAE) - CORE
    The larva begins to contract its body segments and assumes a barrel-shaped form. ... the puparium showing the paired openings for the respiratory horns (Dorsal ...
  63. [63]
    [PDF] studies on the pupation of musca - domestica nf_,bulo fabr. - (diptera
    They appear on the puparial surface at about three hours after the puparium formation, and are later on pierced through by the knob-like respiratory horns of ...
  64. [64]
    [PDF] Pupal behavior emerges from unstructured muscle activity in ... - eLife
    Jul 8, 2021 · Ascending compression of the body wall on one side pushes the opposite side of the body against the static puparium. This prevents further body wall distension ...
  65. [65]
    [PDF] Fundamentals of Entomology - Eternal University
    May 26, 2021 · Entomology studies insects and their relationship to humans and environment. This manual covers insect collection, preservation, identification ...