Jas from the Lab

First “prepupa.”

Fun fact: Swallowtails hang right side up by a silk girdle made around their “waist.” If you look closely you can seen glimpses of it.

In 24-48 hours this butterfly will begin to “hang” from this stick. It will shed it’s caterpillar form one last time and harden to form a chrysalis at which point it will be a “Pupa.” The caterpillar body will be broken down except for special cells with the code to make the butterfly. The butterfly will be rebuilt from scratch. After remaining in the chrysalis for 10-14 days a butterfly will “eclose” or emerge. 🦋💚

Raising Eastern Black Swallowtails
Papilio polyxenes

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