Butterfly Metamorphosis- A wonder to behold!

                                         METAMORPHOSIS- NATURE'S WONDER

                                                       -  Dr. Shruti Handa Rakesh

(In picture: Lime Butterfly Caterpillar)

Nature has its unique way of transforming lives, helping and guiding them to evolve and survive. Many animals undergo this beautiful change. insects, molluscs, echinoderms to name a few. The process is often accompanied by physiological and morphological changes.

Butterflies are one of the beautiful winged creatures of class Insecta. 

Their life cycle is a popular area of study for amateurs' and professionals. It is a photographers delight to capture the phases of this marvelous life event.

The Egg: The egg is laid on the underside as well as over the leaves preferably aromatic ones. These eggs are laid conspicuously to avoid predators.

The Larva/ Caterpillar: The stage of a larva sees many stages (instars) to transforming into a caterpillar. In this stage, the caterpillar is a voracious eater. It consumes as much as food (leaves of the host plant) possible to thrive through the next stage. The caterpillars of various butterflies exhibit their own uniqueness in characteristics. 

The Pupa/ chrysalis:  In this stage the organism is exactly the opposite of its active form as a caterpillar. Here the pupa takes form of an immovable structure camouflaging at its best. A pupa may seem motionless but on careful observation many violent movements intermittently can be seen. The butterfly is forming its appendages and taking shape as a butterfly in this tiny space. This stage of the butterfly uses up food consumed as a caterpillar. No food is consumes at this stage.

Adulthood/ Adult butterfly: The adult butterfly leave the chrysalis and take on to the world with their new pair of wings. They grow on to discover the world, mate and continue the life cycle. 

The nature's way of transforming these organisms is one of a kind! In all kinds of environment the beauty of nature can be witnessed in the form of these beautiful creatures.


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