But, in the cocoon stage, as a pupa, this body structure completely breaks down into a nondescript mass of cells that does not resemble either the caterpillar nor the adult moth or butterfly. It is simply a blob of cells enclosed in the pupa. In the spring, these cells completely reorganize into the structures of the adult insect. A definite head with large compound eyes and large antennae develops. A thorax with two pairs of wings and an abdomen with reproductive organs is formed.
Tiny scales cover the body and wings.
The chewing mouthparts of the caterpillar are gone and in their place is a coiled tube for sipping nectar from flowers. To illustrate how dramatic this process really is, think of a cow melting into a big blob of cells and then this blob changing into a giant hummingbird. After the significant wildfires in McMinnville, Oregon and the nation in 1999, the Yamhill County Extension office was asked by a resident of Fox Ridge Road in McMinnville to create a workshop on wildfire preparedness for the public. The first presentation of this workshop, produced with cooperation from the McMinnville Fire Department, Kraemer's Nursery and Lawrence Snyder Roofing was held on October 18th. OSU Master Gardener volunteers Gail Larkin, Barb Boyer, Deborah Van Dyke and Sandra DeMaster planned and produced the workshop, and lectured on plant materials.