The Butterfly Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North America — John Shaqi
The Butterfly Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North AmericaHolland, W. J. (William Jacob)
Science
The Butterfly Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Butterflies of North America
Holland, W. J. (William Jacob)
Butterflies -- North America
A study of the structure of all chrysalids shows that within them there
is contained the immature butterfly. The segments of the body are
ensheathed in the corresponding segments of the chrysalis, and soldered
over these segments are ensheathing plates of chitinous matter under
which are the wings of the butterfly, as well as all the other organs
necessary to its existence in the airy realm upon which it enters after
emergence from the chrysalis. The practised eye of the observer is soon
able to distinguish the location of the various parts of the butterfly
in the chrysalis, and when the time for escape draws near, it is in
many cases possible to discern through the thin, yet tough and hard,
outer walls of the chrysalis the spots and colors on the wings of the
insect.
[Illustration FIG. 27.--Chrysalis of _Pieris oleracea_ (Riley.)]
_Duration of Pupal Life._--Many butterflies remain in the chrysalis
stage only for a few weeks; others hibernate in this state, and in
temperate climates a great many butterflies pass the winter as
chrysalids. Where, as is sometimes the case, there are two or three
generations or broods of a species during the year, the life of one
brood is generally longer than that of the others, because this brood is
compelled to overwinter, or hibernate. There are a number of butterflies
known in temperate North America which have three broods: a spring
brood, emerging from chrysalids which have overwintered; an early summer
brood; and a fall brood. The chrysalids in the latter two cases
generally represent only a couple of weeks at most in the life of the
insect. In tropical and semi-tropical countries many species remain in
the chrysalis form during the dry season, and emerge at the beginning of
the rains, when vegetation is refreshed and new and tender growths occur
in the forests.
[Illustration FIG. 28.--Butterfly (_Papilio asterias_) just emerging
from chrysalis.]
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