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Butterflies are one of the most beautiful insects in nature, their different shapes and colors have marveled for centuries to people in their different cultures have symbolized them and has been a slope to create illustrations, tattoos, and stories. They are tender and very delicate to fly, also fulfill the work of pollination of certain plant species. But something particular happens with these insects, they are not born as butterflies but their form is the facet of a cycle called metamorphosis. Join me in discovering what the reproduction of this fascinating specimen of nature is like.
Butterflies.
Butterflies are lepidopterous insects in adult or perfect state, has an elongated body, with four large wings and colors generally very colorful produced by a flake or dust that covers them.
The Lepidoptera (Lepidoptera, from the Greek "lepis", scale, and "pteron", wing) are an order of holometábolos insects, almost always flying, commonly known as butterflies, the best known are the butterflies, but most species are nocturnal (moths, sphinxes, peacocks, etc.) and go unnoticed. Their larvae are known as caterpillars and typically feed on plant matter, and some species may be important pests for agriculture. Many species play the role of pollinators of plants and crops.
Metarmorphosis:
Metamorphosis consists of a transformation that some animals undergo in their biological development and that totally affects their form and functions and the way in which they develop in life. Butterflies, polychaetes, echinoderms, insects, crustaceans, and amphibians are part of those animals that can undergo these transformations.
Therefore, we will remain focused on the butterfly as this is the objective of the publication.
Metamorphosis in butterflies:
Butterflies perform a complete metamorphosis (from the Greek meaning, beyond the previous form) these unique characteristics are divided into 4 episodes in their life: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult. This complete cycle is called "generation". It is controlled by hormonal changes and can occur several times a year. This development is successful because in its initial phase the eggs are deposited in a plant where once converted into caterpillars can continue their existence feeding.
Egg:
It is the place of embryonic development where the new being is gestated thanks to fertilization. The existence of the embryo is protected by the hardness of the egg cascade with a soft orifice through which it is fertilized and breathes the embryo that passes about 3 weeks to break the cascade eating it and beginning to devour the nutritious plant in which it was deposited.
Caterpillars:
The insatiable appetite of the caterpillars has given him the title of eating machines because they do not get tired of doing it having short periods of rest where the skin changes several times.
This provided with 6 pairs of eyes and a robust spherical head accompanied by two tri-articulated antennas, with a powerful jaw divided into two lips in one of which is located the row, which is the output of the glands that produce silk which is expelled in a liquid way and dries in contact with air, silk fulfills important functions such as: join leaves to shelter, escape routes and create cocoons (chrysalis). Its ten abdominal segments have 2 pairs of real legs and several properties that are actually its most effective vent. This phase has a time of short or long duration some species depending on the temperature and the environment in which they develop can last two weeks and in others, it can last up to two years in passing to the phase of consolidation (chrysalis).
Chrysalis or pupa:
After his last molt of skin begins the phase of consolidation like a chrysalis there are several forms also as manifested, some achieve it hung by a system of hooks called cremaster, head down, other erect held by a silk belt.
The chrysalis is usually green or brown, although some species manage to adorn their chrysalides manage very pretty.
After passing from caterpillar to chrysalis there is a reorganization of tissues and organs, some changing their functions to those of the butterfly. The duration of the process can take about three weeks, usually, this phase is successful because the cocoons formed to resemble the plants, the cocoon in most species will be at rest, although some species manage to move by the failure of some predators.
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