How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly?
Quick Answer
Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar breaks down much of its body into a cell-rich fluid and rebuilds itself as a butterfly using groups of cells called imaginal discs.
The Full Story
Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis in four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. The caterpillar eats constantly and moults its skin several times as it grows. When fully grown, it forms a chrysalis, and inside, digestive enzymes dissolve many of its tissues. Clusters of cells called imaginal discs, present since the caterpillar hatched, then grow into wings, legs, antennae and eyes. After roughly one to two weeks in many species, the adult splits the chrysalis, pumps fluid into its wings to expand them and flies once they dry.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Caterpillar soup — the astonishing science inside a chrysalis"