Do Caterpillars In The Cocoon Turn Into Goo?

Caterpillars are believed to be completely converted to goo before they become butterflies, except for certain cells necessary for creating butterfly body parts. However, this idea has been debunked by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Caterpillars dissolve into goo and reform into a new animal, like an animal melting and growing out of that melted liquid. If disturbed, caterpillars that make a chrysalis will emerge as butterflies, while those that transform into cocoons will emerge as moths.

Some instances where caterpillars do not undergo metamorphosis include when they digest themselves and dissolve into primordial goo, which then reforms into a flying beauty. This process occurs inside a bean-shaped enclosure called a cocoon, which is not actually a cocoon but rather a silky sleeping bag. The caterpillar sheds its skin to reveal a hard shell underneath, called a chrysalis, which protects the caterpillar while its insides turn to goo.

Metabolism is fascinating, as eggs hatch caterpillars that eat enough to create a chrysalis and then turn into goo and get rearranged. Many important structures stay in tact and just get moved around, such as the gut and tracheal system. Inside the cocoon and the chrysalis, the caterpillar is transforming into a new creature, breaking down the old caterpillar body and turning it into a liquid, soupy substance.

In conclusion, caterpillars are born with everything they need to become butterflies, but their transformation into a new creature is more complex than commonly believed.