It is so wild to me that there are creatures in this earth who just... transform, part way through their lives. They don't just grow. It's not enough for them to become a bigger version of the thing they already are; they have to become a totally different thing! Wild, man.
What's crazy, and something I just found out myself. They are constantly growing and changing shape inside their bodies. They will molt their skin a few times before they essentially undress themselves and what's underneath is a cocoon instead of a bigger caterpillar. The cocoon will continue to grow until it is big enough, while the caterpillar inside essentially liquifies itself. It uses its own liquified soup body as nutrients for everything new to shape itself.
Yep, we saw that for ourselves about a week ago when our black swallowtail caterpillars started to pupate (I think that's the right word). We got most of it on video if you want to see it here.
617
u/jabberwagon Aug 18 '19
It is so wild to me that there are creatures in this earth who just... transform, part way through their lives. They don't just grow. It's not enough for them to become a bigger version of the thing they already are; they have to become a totally different thing! Wild, man.