How exactly does a caterpillar morph into a butterfly?
There’s a question that’s been plaguing me for some time. So, we’ve all known the stages of metamorphosis for butterflies and moths since we were children, but I can’t seem to find a decent description as to exactly how the caterpillar in its chrysalis stage morphs into a butterfly or moth. All I find is vague phrasings such as “hormonal changes” and “magical happenings”. Simply asked, how exactly does a caterpillar, in the chrysalis stage of metamorphosis, morph its physical structure into that of a butterfly or moth? —Mark Anderson SDSTAFF Doug replies: The transformation that results in a butterfly – or fly, or beetle, or wasp, or any other insect that undergoes complete metamorphosis, from larva to pupa to adult – is one of the most remarkable stunts pulled in the animal kingdom. Saying it involves “magical happenings” isn’t so far off: it’s an astounding trick, even when you know how it’s done. And, as with most magic tricks, the secret behind it involves some specialized apparatu
