Ladybird Pupation

[Bios.]

I'm currently working on 7-spots for my MSc research project and I thought I would get some record shots of my larvae pupating. Hopefully I will also get shots in a few days when they eclose to adults.


First the larvae will stop eating and become immobile for about 24 hours, then it will shed it's skin and be bright yellow. Over a few hours the pupa will darken to black in some areas but leaving some spots of orange/yellow. The pupae aren't actually fully immobile, when threatened they can raise themselves up to a vertical position. Unfortunately I couldn't capture this behaviour. I only photographed a couple of larvae that had not attached themselves properly to the containers that I use to keep them in the incubator and I didn't wan't to disturb my experiment by agitating my subjects!


#1

7-spot pupation #1 by [[BIOSPHERE]], on Flickr


#2

7-spot pupation #2 by [[BIOSPHERE]], on Flickr


#3

7-spot pupation #3 by [[BIOSPHERE]], on Flickr


#4

7-spot Pupa by [[BIOSPHERE]], on Flickr

 

[cgipson1]

Cool sequence! That would be fun to do with several arthropods I am fond of!

 

[TGordon]

Pretty cool

 

[Bios.]

Thanks, metamorphosis is a pretty amazing behaviour!

 

[MatthewMorris]

fascinating!!, what lens did you use?

 

[msaha]

WoW!
Just amazing!
what lens are you using?
Did you crop or something?

 

[Netskimmer]

Thanks, metamorphosis is a pretty amazing behaviour!

I've always thought so as well. The ability of some creatures to completely re-structure themselves is just incredible.

 

[Bios.]

Thanks. I was using an MP-E 65mm.

I now have photos of them emerging from the pupae:http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...ladybird-adult-emerging-pupa.html#post2627837