The bewitching 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 creature is always a sight, but when for this it goes through 3 stages of change, it causes genuine interest in the process. Modern equipment allows you to track how the caterpillar turns into butterflies.
A bit of history
The history of butterflies originates in the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era. It was at this time that flower plants were most developed, which caused the appearance of Lepidoptera insects.
Known types of butterflies found in amber, the Paleogene era. They are few
differ from the modern species of these insects, therefore, as a caterpillar turns into a butterfly today, so it happened millions of years ago.
To date, butterflies are the most numerous species of insects, they number about 160,000 species, and live on the entire planet except Antarctica.
The first and second stages of butterfly development
The life cycle of this beautiful insect is dedicated to finding a mate, mating and laying eggs. Each type of butterfly has its own time period of transformation from a caterpillar to an adult insect; it can last as long as three years.
The butterfly does not lay eggs anyhow where, but specifically selects a secluded leaf where they will be safe. Moreover, they instinctively have plant species that are suitable for this. A caterpillar hatched from an egg is not “on its” leaf, can pick and eat 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 moves on. When the caterpillar population increases dramatically, they can do irreparable harm to forests, fruit trees, and even cereal crops.
During the existence of the caterpillar in the body of the caterpillar, the insect is rapidly gaining weight, therefore, several times sheds tight skin. After the last molt, most often the fourth or fifth, the caterpillar begins to prepare for “hibernation” in the cocoon. Some of them have only a few days to carefully eat, gain strength and nutrients, and pack themselves in a cocoon.
Life in a Cocoon
To survive in a period of "inaction" and defenselessness, the caterpillars find a suitable leaf, branch or trunk of a tree to which you can imperceptibly "stick" with a strong silk thread that they secrete from the abdomen.
To understand how the caterpillar turns into butterflies, you should delve into its ability to properly prepare yourself for this.
Having glued to the selected surface, the caterpillar hangs on a silk thread and begins to wrap itself around it around the body. This happens gradually, but what is important, when wrapping the caterpillar gives its cocoon a look similar to a leaf, bud or stem of a plant selected by it.
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 not eaten.
How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly inside a cocoon can be seen only by shooting with special equipment in the laboratory. This process is so slow and secretive that it is impossible to observe it in nature.
The reserves that the caterpillar managed to lay down in its body are quite enough for the strength to metamorphose it into a butterfly.
The publication
The mystery of how a caterpillar turns into butterflies makes scientists each time study, film and record this moment for curious children and adults.
Usually, the moment of the birth of a beautiful insect occurs at sunrise, when it is still not hot, and dew lies on the plants. The cocoon literally bursts, as if a ripe fruit, and a new creature is gradually selected from it, this caterpillar turns into a butterfly, the pictures clearly show this.
At first, the butterfly is very weak, its wings are wrinkled and lack elasticity and strength, therefore, it clings to the stem, leaf or branch to “relax”, spread and dry the wings. As they straighten and dry out, they become denser and more elastic. Sometimes a butterfly takes a couple of hours to do this.
After the caterpillar turns into butterflies, its “priorities” in life change. If at the stage of the larva the main need for its existence was food, then now the goal of the insect is to continue its genus and start the cycle again. The first thing a new creature does is search for 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 crawling and ever-chewing caterpillars to winged beauties especially captivates children.
Documentary and animated films were shot on the theme “How a Caterpillar Turns into a Butterfly” for children. Perhaps this is a great way to wake a child's genuine interest in the world around him.
Starting with an interest in butterflies, children subsequently show interest in other species of fauna and flora. Thus, the child is introduced to the planet on which he lives, and its inhabitants.