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19 Before And After Photos Of Butterfly And Moth Transformations
19 Before And After Photos Of Butterfly And Moth Transformations
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19 Before And After Photos Of Butterfly And Moth Transformations

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The animal kingdom is full of beautiful and mysterious processes, but few are more captivating and beautiful than the butterfly metamorphosis. A caterpillar turning into a butterfly is indeed a mesmerizing conversion.

Perhaps even more amazing than the drastic transformation is how it happens. Inside their cocoons, the caterpillars are completely liquified, retaining only rudimentary “plates” that are the starting points for essential features like the wings and eyes. Even though they are reduced to a protein soup, studies have indicated that some butterflies can retain behaviors that they were taught as caterpillars. Far out!

The cool thing is that many of these caterpillars are almost as impressive, if not more so than their moth or butterfly counterparts. The regular green caterpillar looks plain, compared to these beauties. Their bright markings and structures often serve as protection, advertising their poisonous nature or giving predators false targets to attack. The hairy caterpillars can sometimes cause an allergic reaction, and that is also one of their survival techniques.

Scroll down to get your dose of majestic moth caterpillars below!

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    Image credits: Igor Siwanowicz

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    Image credits: Igor Siwanowicz

    Cecropia

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    Image credits: Lida

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    Image credits: Chip Miller

    Spicebush Swallowtail

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    Image credits: luckybon

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    Image credits: shill718

    Black Swallowtail

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    Image credits: Jim Gilbert

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    Image credits: Tetsuya Shimizu

    Polyura Sempronius

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    Image credits: teejaybee

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    Image credits: David Cook

    Acraga Coa

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    Image credits: Our Breathing Planet 

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    Image credits: greenmama.ru

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    Acharia Stimulea

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    Image credits: butterfly blue

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    Image credits: butterfliesandmoths.org

    Phobetron Pithecium

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    Image credits: Airton Morassi

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    Image credits: Lou Prosperi 3rd

    Glass Winged Butterfly

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    Image credits: Wendy

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    Image credits: Alexander Adema

    Cerura Vinula

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    Image credits: Lukas Jonaitis

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    Image credits: Valerio Formichella

    Flannel Moth

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    Image credits: Andreas Kay

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    Blue Morpho

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    Image credits: gerckens.photo

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    Image credits: Ricardo Jimenes

    Isochaetes Beutenmuelleri

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    Image credits: Igor Siwanowicz

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    Image credits: Roy Morris

    Hubbard’s Small Silkmoth

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    Image credits: Charles & Clint

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    Image credits: Margarethe Brummermann

    Isa Textula

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    Image credits: Matthew Myers

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    Image credits: Ray Morris

    Pipevine Swallowtail

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    Image credits: cotinis

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    Image credits: John Flannery

    Spotted Apatelodes

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    Image credits: Bill Tanneberger

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    Image credits: kestrel360

    Io Moth

    caterpillar-moth-butterfly-before-after-metamorphosis-17-1

    Image credits: Jason Penney

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    Image credits: Roger Wasley

    Attacus Atlas

    caterpillar-moth-butterfly-before-after-metamorphosis-20-1

    Image credits: John Horstman

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    Image credits: Andrew Cooper

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    What do you think ?
    KristinaBastytė
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do like butterflies in general, really interesting colourful creatures, but honestly, moth species I find sometimes terrifying.

    TaylorRoberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they're all creepy as hell. If it flies and can land on my person, I don't like it.

    Load More Replies...
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    StefyLee
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most of them with beautiful colours as caterpillars, turned out to be more dull moths, than those looking more pale in caterpillar years.

    HHOlm
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) is mis-paired with an alpine black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio maackii).

    MaureenO'Connell
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the blue morpho, as a butterfly enthusiast, these are fantastic

    SetiGershberg
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many were moths, beautiful indeed, but the title is not accurate...

    nadiamarieharding
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Incredible beauty, thank you the photographers for their dedication to capture this incredible life change for all of us.

    Load More Comments
    KristinaBastytė
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do like butterflies in general, really interesting colourful creatures, but honestly, moth species I find sometimes terrifying.

    TaylorRoberson
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they're all creepy as hell. If it flies and can land on my person, I don't like it.

    Load More Replies...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    StefyLee
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most of them with beautiful colours as caterpillars, turned out to be more dull moths, than those looking more pale in caterpillar years.

    HHOlm
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) is mis-paired with an alpine black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio maackii).

    MaureenO'Connell
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the blue morpho, as a butterfly enthusiast, these are fantastic

    SetiGershberg
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many were moths, beautiful indeed, but the title is not accurate...

    nadiamarieharding
    Community Member
    11 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Incredible beauty, thank you the photographers for their dedication to capture this incredible life change for all of us.

    Load More Comments
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