![]() ![]() There is a disc to make the wings, a disc to make the legs, a disc to make the antennae and so forth.ĭuring the larvae (caterpillar) stage, these discs do nothing because the caterpillar produces a chemical called the juvenile hormone that prevents the imaginal disc cells from duplicating and growing.Īnother special trait of the imaginal discs: they do not break down in the enzymes that digest the rest of the body. The imaginal discs contain very few cells, but contain all the directions for making a butterfly or moth. ![]() When a caterpillar emerges from the egg, it has special cell groups called imaginal discs. However, within that caterpillar ooze are tiny secret structures. If you were to cut open a cocoon during this stage, a liquid caterpillar smoothie would ooze out. That’s right, it releases enzymes that start to liquify almost the entire caterpillar. The caterpillar does not simply rearrange itself into a butterfly or moth. This is where things get crazy and kind of disgusting. It will hang upside down and surround its body with silk that it created - or some species create one final special molt that serves as its cocoon. More: Why is the full moon so big when it rises? Ready for a changeĪfter the caterpillar's cycle of molting and growing is complete, it will usually stop eating and find a nice place to shelter it from the weather. Most caterpillars go through four to five molts and increase their size each time. It can now continue to eat and eat and eat, then it needs to molt again. The anatomy of a caterpillar is basically just a food storage container.Įventually, that food storage body will become full so it molts, which means it sheds its skin and develops a larger-size skin. Once the tiny caterpillar comes out of its egg, it will eat and eat and eat. We take for granted this fascinating metamorphosis that almost seems like magic when you think about it.īut do you really know how a butterfly forms? How in the world does a caterpillar go in and a butterfly or moth comes out? It turns out that it not only seems magical - it’s pretty gross too! The beginningĪ caterpillar’s life starts out fairly normal. ![]() At an early age, almost every kid knows that a caterpillar will eat leaves, cocoon itself, then emerge as a butterfly. Caterpillars and butterflies have been a part of classrooms since the very beginning of a child’s schooling. ![]()
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