Here you can see he’s getting angular. Clearly something is going on inside. I’ll paraphrase from this gory article. Enzymes are digesting the caterpillar! Inside him are embryonic-type cells growing called “imaginal disks.” One imaginal disk will become, for example, a wing; a butterfly has 4 wings. There are imaginal disks that form the legs, antennae, and other parts.
Inside this thing, until a few days ago, was a — yuck — “bag of rich fluid media” that the cells started growing on. He has been getting shorter.
“The entire internal contents of the caterpillar — the muscles, the entire digestive system, even the heart…the nervous system — is totally rebuilt. It’s like you took your…Ford into the shop and left it there for a week and it came out as a Cadillac.“
What’s nerve racking is the black line at top. I can’t tell if it’s a discoloration or an open slit. There are parasites that bore a hole, but I’ve read nothing about a slit.
I add this shot because it shows a little better that the dots along the slit are an exquisite gold that goes beautifully with the chrysalis’ green.
The nail biter continues, folks. I do hope he’s still alive in there, parasite-free. This is why we don’t watch nature shows. Who can take the anxiety?
It won’t be long now, either way. We’ll know by Friday, you and I.
I LERV the slit! I have never seen one! Please DO continue to photograph this intense metamorphosis! I’m so excited. A creature of miracles and beauty!
LikeLike
Insanely, ANOTHER phat caterpillar showed up today and is now hanging in the “J” in another jar…so if Subject #1 fails (the slit), I’ve got backup for you! Surely one of them will t r a n s f o r m. So glad you are digging this.
LikeLike
Perfect metaphor for these strange tymes.
LikeLike
I agree, on an individual level and on a mankind-as-a-whole’s level. (Are we allowed to say “mankind” any more?)
LikeLike