Indra Swallowtail Butterfly Pupation Time Lapse Documentary

A very close-up look at the pupation process of the Indra Swallowtail (subspecies phyllisae), accompanied by still images of the adult, larvae and a time lapse emerging sequence. Normally, the caterpillar molts its old skin as it grows (because the skin doesn’t grow with the caterpillar), and a new caterpillar emerges. However, when the caterpillar reaches maturity, it selects a secluded location and “straps itself in“ with silk for the final molt into a “pupa“ or “chrysalis“ (shown here), an