Pupa

 Pupa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A **pupa** (Latin pupa for doll, pl: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in insects that undergo a complete **metamorphosis**, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago.

[Click a pic to see the source!]

The pupae of different groups of insects have different names such as **chrysalis** in butterflies and tumbler in mosquitoes. Pupae may further be enclosed in other structures such as cocoons, nests or shells. In the life cycle of an insect the pupal stage follows the larval stage and precedes adulthood, or imago. It is during the time of pupation that the adult structures of the insect are formed while the larval structures are broken down. Pupae are inactive, and usually not able to move about. They have a hard protective coating and often use camouflage to evade potential predators. media type="youtube" key="nR-3y0zcu6o" height="265" width="320" Pupation may be brief, for example 2 weeks as in monarch butterflies, or the pupa may enter dormancy or until the appropriate season for the adult insect. In temperate climates, pupae usually stay dormant during winter, in the tropics pupae usually do so during the dry season.

To read a **fun story** about the metamorphosis of a monarch butterfly, look at [|Monty the Monarch]!

**Teaching suggestions**

//Puppet Show// When using the charts to review the processes of complete and incomplete metamorphosis, make sure that children understand that there are several distinct stages in the development of caterpillars (in fact, 5!). - From [|vinsweb.org] For easy stick puppet construction, go to []

Interesting factoid: The word 'puppet' comes from the same Latin word "pupa", which means 'doll', presumably because a puppet is like a doll you animate! - kfuzzbox []  Ten little eggs, (Hold up hands with 10 fingers straight) All in a mound. (Join hands together in a ball) Out come caterpillars, (Extend and wiggle fingers) Crawling all around. Next they will sleep (Lay head to one side on hands) And we know why. Soon they’ll come (Hold hands up, fingers straight) Out as butterflies! (Wave fingers) - From []
 * ACTION POEMS AND SONGS ON LIFE CYCLE** (for younger students)


 * "Look, I'm a Butterfly"** (TUNE: Pop Goes the Weasel)

I spin and spin my chrysalis, ( circle fingers on the palm) Then go to rest inside. ( circle fingers and rest hand on palm) When I come out, I've changed indeed. . . ( open fingers slowly) Look! I'm a butterfly! ( fly fingers away)

The butterfly lays her eggs. The butterfly lays her eggs Hi ho the derrio The butterfly lays her eggs The caterpillar hatches out. The caterpillar eats the leaves The caterpillar gets sleepy The caterpillar becomes a chrysalis The butterfly pops out. The butterflies flies away. - From [] Give each student a three-cup section of an egg carton bottom. Instruct him/her to use permanent markers and pipe cleaners to decorate his egg-carton sections to resemble a caterpillar. Use pipe cleaners for the feelers. After discussing that caterpillars build a chrysalis, have each student roll his caterpillar in a 9"x12" sheet of construction paper. Wrap with a rubber band. Store the chrysalis in a box with a sign "Metamorphosis in Progress ". One day after school unroll each chrysalis, trace large butterfly wings onto the paper, glue the butterfly body in place, and reroll the paper. This is fun to use at the same time you have real chrysalis in the classroom. Then when the real butterflies hatch, your students can open their paper chrysalis. - From []
 * How a Butterfly Grows** (To the Tune of: Farmer in the Dell)
 * Caterpillar Surprise Activity**

[|Click here] for some nice chrysalis pics on this **butterfly blog**! Here's [|another one]! What's going on [|inside] a monarch chrysalis?

Pictures retrieved from [],, [|www.monarch-butterfly.com], Video embedded from YouTube.com