Rhantus suturalis, pupa
THE larva OF THE PREVIOUS PAGE HAS TOTALLY CHANGED AFTER A WEEK.
It has become a pupa.
Under the pupal skin the perfect beetle is almost ready. I don't know whether the larva has a moult just before the pupal stage.
The large compound eyes of the beetle are visible through the pupal skin. Also the legs
and wings have developed. After some hours the pupal skin will tear open, along the seam which
is just visible on the neck shield. Then the beetle emerges from the pupa, so the pupal stage
is very short compared to, for example, a butterfly pupa that often hibernates for months. The
Rhantus beetles have a short developing time. As is written on the
larva page
this is necessary because the little pools which are their habitats, often dry out quick and the
beetle must be ready to fly.
On the "snout", head and back the pupa has stiff hairs that carry it, so it lies free from the surrounding mud.
This probably avoids fungus and keeps the air around the pupa fresh while the pupa is resting motionless
until the beetle starts stirring in it's envelope.
The fresh beetle is weak with floppy legs. And it is probably has a light-yellow colour at first,
like all insects after a moult. I sadly missed the light-yellow stage, it last just a few hours
I guess. The hardening of the beetle last longer, that's why she stays safely under leaf in the
pupation hole.
back to: WATERBEETLES 1
Page track:
INDEX »
diving beetles »
Rhantus suturalis »
the pupa
COPYRIGHT:
All pictures on this site were made by
Gerard Visser (Aadorp,
Netherlands), unless stated otherwise. All rights remain with him. These pictures may not be used
for purposes any other than private viewing or printing. Do NOT hardlink to these pictures or
place them on other websites without the author's approval. Should you need them for purposes
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educative material are much encouraged to do so, after approval as mentioned and giving the normal
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© G.H. Visser 09-09-2007
rev 07-07-2008
Deze pagina in het Nederlands Dutch page
https://www.microcosmos.nl/beet1/rhantusp.htm