Here's a video of a monarch caterpillar becoming a chrysalis (through, I assume, the same process this guy will go through). It's weird AF, you've been warnedhttps://youtu.be/-gsm_ZyJz_s
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The first caterpillar finished his cocoon ~48 hours ago. I very carefully cut the cocoon open, and I'm hoping to capture a timelapse of the transformation into a pupa using an old iphonepic.twitter.com/Gs6PLyHmwU
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haha, OK, it's looking like what I'm going to get is a timelapse of this caterpillar saying "I'll fix this but you better fuck off."pic.twitter.com/2W7rvXC9KE
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I might try this again with another caterpillar in a darkened area under red light
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I read that opening a cocoon in an attempt to help the moth will actually weaken it as it needs the opening process to strengthen its wings. Not 100% though.
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Hard to say — lots of people have removed the pupa from the cocoon and still seen a moth successtully emerge. And plenty of of cocoons have failed to produce a moth.
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(Cutting it open doesn't interrupt the process?)
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It shouldn't, but AFAICT this might be the first attempt at capturing video for this particular species, so it's possible that this will stress him out too badly to continue. I'll definitely feel awful if that happens
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Are light or air circulation factors? Just thinking of what might be different with the cocoon open. Perhaps concentration of exhaled gases? I hope the transformation is successful and you can capture it.
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I don't *think* those are important factors (but I suppose we'll find out). Apparently some of these little guys are better at cocoon-building than others, so not all of them are as solid & secure as this one's. They're mostly for protection; the moths take ~8-10 months to emerge
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I have always wanted to see this.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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