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Ready to Morph


Ready to Morph
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5859] (19702)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-27
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-29 23:18
Viewed: 483
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Monarch caterpillar (larva) is getting ready to move into the next stage of the metamorphosis: pupa. It finds a sheltered spot and attaches itself to a twig (or in this case, a beam on the fence) upside down. Its colors turn darker and murkier, its body goes rigid in a J shape. Soon it will turn into a chrysalid.

Click here to see another caterpillar, a chrysalid, a butterfly, and a cluster .

Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus

Around the fifteenth day, the caterpillar feels a sense of urgency, Its skin is beginning to harden and internal changes are taking place; the miracles of metamorphosis is about to begin, and it is on a timetable. It must find a suitable protected place above the ground, before its hardening skin makes movement impossible.

Having found such a spot, the caterpillar lays down a mat of silk fibers, attaches itself upside down to the mar, curls its body into the shape of a letter "J" and sheds its skin one last time to replace it with a shell covering. During the next nine to fifteen days, extraordinary changes take place within this chrysalis; the leaf chewing caterpillar that disappeared into it emerges as a radiant, nectar-sipping Monarch Butterfly.

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ramthakur, eng55, gannu, dB_grafix has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Superb documentation, Manyee.
I have understood the cycle of a butterfly's life very clearly through your series of pictures and this one is a significant link in that chain.
The speciment in this picture has already lost the outer signs of life.
TFS and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-04-30 1:15]

Hi Manyee,
It's an interesting macro work.DOF is
very good.Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 917 W: 4 N: 2282] (10648)
  • [2008-05-01 1:39]

Hello Manyee, Very interesting shot and superb showing. I like the way you have taken the composition. Excellent Ganesh

Hi Manyee
I think this is what trek is all about. Learing through good photos, and the notations.
It has been so long since I have seen or thought about metamorphosis. Thanks for bringing this here.
Of course the image is super,with focus and colours being so clear:)
d

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