DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5p5cm
title: Data from: The ‘dance’ of life: visualizing metamorphosis during pupation in the blow fly Calliphora vicina by X-ray video imaging and micro-computed tomography

description: The dramatic metamorphosis from larva to adult of insect orders such as
 Diptera cannot usually be witnessed because it occurs within an opaque
 structure. For the cyclorrhaphous dipterans, such as blow flies, this
 structure is the puparium, formed from the larval cuticle. Here, we reveal
 metamorphosis within the puparium of a blow fly at higher temporal
 resolution than previously possible with two-dimensional time-lapse videos
 created using the X-ray within a micro-computed tomography scanner,
 imaging development at 1 min and 2 min intervals. Our studies confirm that
 the most profound morphological changes occur during just 0.5% of the
 intrapuparial period (approx. equivalent to 1.25 h at 24°C) and
 demonstrate the significant potential of this technique to complement
 other methods for the study of developmental changes, such as hormone
 control and gene expression. We hope this will stimulate a renewed
 interest among students and researchers in the study of morphology and its
 astonishing transformation engendered by metamorphosis.
description: Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S1Time-lapse X-ray video
 of pupation in Calliphora vicina, beginning at 28 hours after pupariation
 (00:00, h:min). Images are displayed at one frame per second, each image
 captured at intervals of one-minute (i.e. 60 x natural speed). The pupa
 was imaged with the dorsal surface uppermost and its head at the top of
 the video. See text and Figure 1 for further
 explanation.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S2Time-lapse X-ray video
 of pupation in six specimens of Calliphora vicina, beginning at 28 hours
 after pupariation (00:00, h:min). Images are displayed at one frame per
 second, each image captured at intervals of two-minutes (i.e. 120 x
 natural speed). The puparia on the top row (A-C) were imaged with the
 dorsal surface uppermost (specimen B inclined slightly to the left) while
 the puparia on the bottom row (D-F) were imaged with their left side
 uppermost. All puparia have their head at the top of the video. See text
 and Figure 1 for further explanation. Note that the gas bubble in specimen
 D has already started to move from the pupa at the start of the video and
 that the process starts next in specimen E then sequentially in specimens
 B, C, A and finally in F.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S3 - 6hAPsagittal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual sagittal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at six hours after
 pupariation, scanned from left surface to right surface, dorsal surface on
 right-hand side of video, head at top. See text and Figure 2B for further
 explanation. Note the indentation in the cuticle of the puparium on the
 dorsal surface of the anterior end.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S4 - 6hAPhorizontal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual horizontal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at six hours
 after pupariation, scanned from dorsal surface to ventral surface, head at
 top. See text and Figure 2D for further explanation. Note the indentation
 in the cuticle of the puparium on the dorsal surface of the anterior
 end.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S5 - 24hAPsagittal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual sagittal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at 24 hours after
 pupariation, scanned from left surface to right surface, dorsal surface on
 right-hand side of video, head at top. See text and Figure 2F for further
 explanation.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S6 - 24hAPhorizontal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual horizontal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at 24 hours
 after pupariation, scanned from dorsal surface to ventral surface, head at
 top. See text and Figure 2H for further explanation.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S7 - 30hAPsagittal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual sagittal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at 30 hours after
 pupariation, scanned from left surface to right surface, dorsal surface on
 right-hand side of video, head at top. See text and Figure 2J for further
 explanation.Open Science -
 Metamorphosis Movies S8 - 30hAPhorizontal_24fpsStack of micro-CT based
 virtual horizontal sections of Calliphora vicina puparium at 30 hours
 after pupariation, scanned from dorsal surface to ventral surface, head at
 top. See text and Figure 2L for further explanation.