How Do Butterflies Use Silk to Attach their Pupae to Trees?
Mengyao Lu,
Hongtao Zhu,
Jing Cheng
et al.
Abstract:Butterflies constitute approximately 10% of lepidopteran
insects,
and along with silkworms, they can produce silk; however, this feature
is often ignored. In the present study, we observed two primary methods
used by butterflies to hang pupae on trees using silk: pupa adheraena
(Danaus chrysippus) and pupa contigua
(Papilio polytes). Anchoring the abdominal
ends of pupae with a silk pad was the most common method used in both
cases, whereas wrapping silk around the body using a silk girdle was
a method unique … Show more
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