English
The larvae of certain insect groups have specific names: those of certain Diptera are called maggots.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Claude Pilon)

Before becoming adult, the maggot turns into an oval shaped brown nymph, called a pupa.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Claude Pilon)

Before becoming adult, the maggot turns into an oval shaped brown nymph, called a pupa.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Claude Pilon)

After feeding, the caterpillar of the Black swallowtail attaches itself to a branch with a silk belt. It then transforms into a chrysalis before becoming an adult.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Gilles Murray)

After feeding, the caterpillar of the Black swallowtail attaches itself to a branch with a silk belt. It then transforms into a chrysalis before becoming an adult.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (René Limoges)

The emergence of the butterfly from its chrysalis is rather fast. However, before flying, the butterfly can take up to a few hours to spread and dry its wings.
Photo: Insectarium de Montréal (Laurent Desaulniers)

Pupation is a phase of the life cycle that is unique to insects that undergo complete metamorphosis. During this stage, major internal transformations take place so that the insect can become an adult. The beginnings of wings appear at this stage. At the pupal stage, the insect does not eat and is usually almost or completely immobile.
Adult life
After a period of time in the pupal stage comes the insect’s first moult, which marks the transition to adulthood. The adult insect is usually winged and very mobile. It can reproduce and ensure the continuity of the species.