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Butterfly Cocoon

After a caterpillar reaches its full growing stage, it will stop feeding and some types of caterpillars will spin a protective cocoon of silk around themselves before beginning its chrysalis stage. This cocoon stage usually takes place during the fall and it is not until the Spring that a butterfly will emerge. This picture shows you how the finished cocoon stage looks before the next cycle happens.

 

Inside the cocoon, a chrysalis will not move but many fascinating changes take place. The body of the caterpillar gets broken down inside the cocoon and after a few days or a couple of months, depending on the type of butterfly, its shape becomes apparent.

 

 

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Uploaded on August 28, 2010
Taken on July 1, 2010