Freedom
by Linda Howes
Title
Freedom
Artist
Linda Howes
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
I believe this is the pupa of a Monarch butterfly. I thought it had a beautiful glow as it swayed in the wind. A new life of freedom for the caterpillar, Just image the first day if being able to fly!
The chrysalis (generically referred to as a pupa), is not a "resting" stage as many people think. Quite to the contrary, a lot is happening to the pupa! The body of the caterpillar is transforming into an adult butterfly! Wings are fully formed (the beginnings of the wings were actually forming underneath the caterpillar's skin before its last molt) in the chrysalis. Antennae are formed and the chewing mouthparts of the caterpillar are transformed into the sucking mouthparts of the butterfly.
After approximately 10 to 14 days as a chrysalis, the butterfly is ready to emerge. When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, its wings are small and wet, and the butterfly cannot yet fly. The butterfly must pump fluids from its abdomen through the veins in its wings, which causes the wings to expand to their full size. Next, the wings must dry and the butterfly must exercise flight muscles before it can fly.
Uploaded
February 14th, 2020
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Viewed 568 Times - Last Visitor from White Plains, NY on 03/28/2024 at 1:55 AM
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Comments (40)
Hanne Lore Koehler
Wonderful title for this fantastic chrysalis, Linda! Gorgeous light and background! L/F/T
Dawn Currie
Congratulations! Your exceptional photographic artwork has been featured in our group, Artistic Photography! You are invited to archive it in the 2020 Artistic Photography Thanks and Features Archive discussion thread for more visibility.