Video · 0:57
What really happens inside a butterfly chrysalis?
Inside the shell, the caterpillar melts down into a rich soup. Tiny parts that survive the melting use this soup to build a brand new body with bright wings and long legs. After weeks pass and the shell turns clear, the shell cracks open and a butterfly emerges.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key facts
- A plump caterpillar hangs upside down from a twig in the shape of the letter J and sheds its skin.
- Inside the hard green shell, the caterpillar melts into a rich soup.
- Tiny parts survive the melting and use the soup to build wings and legs.
- Over weeks, the green shell becomes clear like glass until bright colors show inside.
- The emerging butterfly pumps fluid into its wings to stretch them before the morning sun dries them.
Questions people also ask
What does a caterpillar do before forming a chrysalis?
After eating lots of green leaves, it hangs upside down from a twig in the shape of a letter J and sheds its skin.
How does the shell change before the butterfly comes out?
Over weeks, the hard green shell becomes clear like glass, revealing bright colors inside before it gently cracks open.
How does the butterfly prepare its wings to fly?
The butterfly pumps fluid into its wings to stretch them out, and then the morning sun dries them.
What the video says
A plump caterpillar eats lots of green leaves. Then, it hangs upside down from a twig. It makes the shape of a letter J.
It sheds its skin. It becomes a hard green shell. A magic trick happens inside. The caterpillar melts into a rich soup!
Tiny parts inside survive the melting. These parts use the soup to build a new body. They make bright wings and long legs.
Weeks pass by. The green shell becomes clear like glass. You can see bright colors inside. The shell opens up with a gentle crack.
A beautiful butterfly comes out. It pumps fluid into its wings to stretch them. The morning sun dries them, and it flies away!
