Indra Swallowtail Butterfly Pupation Time Lapse Documentary

A very close-up look at the pupation process of the Indra Swallowtail (subspecies phyllisae), accompanied by still images of the adult, larvae and a time lapse emerging sequence.

Normally, the caterpillar molts its old skin as it grows (because the skin doesn't grow with the caterpillar), and a new caterpillar emerges.

However, when the caterpillar reaches maturity, it selects a secluded location and "straps itself in" with silk for the final molt into a "pupa" or "chrysalis" (shown here), and cannot move. This video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMdrBgGk6Ik) shows indra swallowtails strapping themselves in with silk, and this one of a Pale Swallowtail larva strapping itself in shows the event in very clear detail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfSZcH9ccgg&feature=relmfu

This is the first step of its metamorphosis into the adult insect. The pupa hardens and changes color to better match the environment, since it may remain this way for up to 7 years before the adult butterfly emerges.

Pupation and preparation timeline:
The caterpillar wanders 1-2 days looking for a safe spot to pupate. Once it finds a good spot, it sits there, idle, for up to 24 hours, verifying that the site is suitable. It makes a light silk pad on the selected substrate, and adds three silk "buttons" (two to anchor the suspension loop, and one to attach its tail "cremaster"). Once strapped in, it hangs there for 1 to 2 days, preparing for pupation. The actual skin molt takes only a few minutes, and final forming to shape takes another 2 hours or so.

It's a fairly long process altogether, with only a few "action" events and a LOT of waiting around while cellular processes go on inside.

The soundtrack is "Idnarepo Sodum" from the "TimeShift" CD by Technician (yours truly), album and single track available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/timeshift/id416810514 full artist discography and CDs available at HTTP://technician.jcmdi.com

Much more info, images and documentary about rearing the Indra Swallowtail here:
http://lepidoptera.jcmdi.com/b/pap/phyllisae/phyllisaer.html
http://lepidoptera.jcmdi.com/b/pap/fordi/fordir.html

and at lepidoptera.jcmdi.com

Another really good caterpillar (Pipevine Swallowtail) strapping itself in with a silk thread can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN42dXsr3l4

Enjoy!

Category:

Education

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[sharonduke95]

What is that string of silk thqt goes across their backs in the pupa stage ?

Wonderful Video.

[jcmegabyte]

@sharonduke95 That is actually a silk thread which the caterpillar spins itself, to hold itself in place during the potentially long (sometimes up to 7 years) pupal diapuase phase. There is a link in the vid description to a couple of my other vids which show how they make that thread. :-) Enjoy!

[giggitygoo202]

awesome



[jcmegabyte]

@giggitygoo202  Thanks! =D

[junhua123]

wow :O

[jcmegabyte]

@junhua123 Thanks for stopping by! =D

[heroboy22]

Fantastic.

[zombiekill2]

had a couple tigers on my blood orange tree once those things got pretty big

[cherubijn100]

This is wonderful!

[JunLiga]

@TheNatureStation Excellent! thank you very much for your answer.

[TheNatureStation]

@JunLiga In the first few instars (larval phases) the caterpillars actually eat their molted skins as they grow for some added protien. However, at this last phase the pupa is incapable of eating, so the molted skin just falls away to the ground, no doubt to be consumed by some other hungry predator :-)

[JunLiga]

awww. so pretty. But can someone tell me where their larva skin (I'm not sure how to call this) goes? It seems like they pull it inside them, do they eat it?

[DarkIvanlife]

It is amazing how these creatures can do this. Truely a work of nature. Way to go universe~



[MASEK360]

@jcmegabyte what a bunch of badasses

[OtakuFangirlZ]

@JcmdiStockFootage  eh, well to be honest, i kinda wound up on this video by mistake. Hehehe. But its still wonderful. :)

[JcmdiStockFootage]

@OtakuFangirlZ Thanks so much for watching! :-)