A chrysalis (Latin chrysallis, from Greek χρυσαλλίς = chrysallís, plural: chrysalides, also known as an aurelia) or nympha is the pupal stage of butterflies. The term is derived from the metallic gold-coloration found in the pupae of many butterflies, referred to by the Greek term χρυσός (chrysós) for gold.Posted for the detailed view of the process, which I have watched countless times.
A cocoon is a casing spun of silk by many moths and caterpillars, and numerous other holometabolous insect larvae as a protective covering for the pupa.
01 September 2017
Monarch chrysalis formation
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I have a friend in California who planted four milkweed in her garden for decoration. Found several Monarch cats soon after. Then she found out Monarchs have a 90% mortality rate in the wild, brought them in and started hand-raising them. Several more milkweed plants later, she, her husband, and her kids have not yet tired of raising them and seeing them metamorphose, or watching them emerge and releasing them. So far, she's raised well over 100 Monarch cats and is still going.
ReplyDeleteGood for her. It's not a simple task; bringing them in gets them away from birds, spiders, ants, and wasps but there is still a risk from the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. We have occasionally found a chrysalis under a dining room table; a friend noticed three of them on the living room ceiling (that later eclosed and had to be captured in order to be released).
DeleteI've watched the process before (live) ~ endlessly fascinating!!
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