what is pupa

A pupa is a life stage of some insects that undergo transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous, meaning they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle. During pupation, larval structures break down, and adult structures such as wings appear for the first time. Pupae are usually immobile and are largely defenseless, so they often cover themselves with a cocoon, conceal themselves in the environment, or form underground to overcome this. Some species of Lycaenid butterflies are protected in their pupal stage by ants, while others use chemical defenses including toxic secretions. Moth pupae are usually dark in color and either formed in underground cells, loose in the soil, or their pupa is contained in a protective silk case called a cocoon. The pupa of some species, such as the hornet moth, develop sharp ridges around the outside called adminicula that allow the pupa to move from its place of... . The chrysalis of butterflies and cocoon of moths are some of the most commonly recognized pupal stages.