Metamorphosis: A Rebirth

Metamorphosis: A Rebirth of Spirit.

First, all insects hatch from an egg, on a food source whence it was laid.

Eating, growing, crawling through life, instars - shedding when skin is tight.

Larva, caterpillar grows so fast, for destined change will be a task.

Soon a chrysalis will affirm, an inward change with no return.

 

Chrysalis, a synthesis of of function shape and form, such wonder of mystery, efficiency adorned.

Cradle of magnificence protects the change within, Hidden from the eyes of men as it has always been.

Colors of a butterfly slowly showing through, the skin of protection, delicate but true.

its time for emergence, the chrysalis must die, so its inner being can spread new wings and fly.

Pushing and pumping, the pupal skin is cracked, out slips the insect from its previous form intact.

Coming together as it works on many parts, if all is successful a new life soon will start.

Wings now in symmetry the butterfly has flown, patterned in language code each species calls its own.

Now in a world that no human can discern, a metaphor of life reborn for which we often yearn.

For pictures showing butterfly metamorphosis see http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

Monarch Butterfly Complete Metamorphosis Life Cycle Caterpillar, Larva, Chrysalis, Pupa Slide Show

 

 

This post is a little different than the normal writing blog. The main focus here is pictures. You know the old saying,”a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, in this case in particular, it is very true. Below are links to pictures showing in detail the transformation of a caterpillar to a chrysalis, and then, a chrysalis into a butterfly.

I have had a deep fascination with insects, especially Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) literally since kindergarten. Instead of playing “Cowboys and Indians” with the neighbor kids I was out in a nearby field poking around at all sorts of critters. However, it was always the mystery of the beauty and flight of the butterflies that deeply absorbed my attention.

It really was an all consuming passion. Early grade school years saw me collecting butterflies and then going to the college library to classify them. When it was possible to travel a little south of northern Minnesota it was challenging to see if I could find hybrids of white banded and red spotted purples. I thought about things like,” Female white morph sulpher butterflies are so common; why can’t I find any white males?” and so on.

One outcome of this rather eccentric childhood is the photos presented below.

Here are two sets of pictures of a monarch butterfly complete metamorphosis life cycle.

In the first set the entire metamorphosis, including the butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, was captured however, the slides are not the crisp quality of the set of digital images. They do a good job of getting the point across. Link here to a set showing metamorphosis taken with 35mm slides about forty years ago in Bemidji, Minnesota.

The digital photos show a nice sequence of the caterpillar to chrysalis transformation as well as showing the developing colors of the butterfly within the chrysalis prior to emergence. Sadly, I missed the actual butterfly emergence this time around. Click on the link to see the digital photos taken August 2007 in Richmond Kentucky.

For more on metamorphosis and a few facts about butterflies and other invertebrates go to http://lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com There are more pictures, facts, and links to other related sites you should enjoy