Q
How do caterpillars turn into butterflies?
A
Expert Answer
Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body essentially digests itself into 'soup' using enzymes, except for imaginal discs—clusters of cells that survive and reorganize into butterfly structures (wings, legs, eyes). The transformation is more complete reconstruction than simple metamorphosis.
Key Insight
Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body essentially digests itself into 'soup' using enzymes, except for imaginal discs—clusters of cells that survive and reorganize into butterfly structures (wings, legs, eyes).
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