Obtect

Obtect is a term used in entomology to describe a type of pupal form in which the insect's appendages are pressed tightly against the body and are immobile, often enclosed within a hardened pupal cuticle. The word derives from Latin obtectus, meaning covered or hidden.

In obtect pupae, the limbs, antennae, and sometimes wings are not free but are appressed to the body, with metamorphic changes occurring beneath the pupal integument. The pupa is typically immobile and may be suspended or enclosed within a protective case, such as a chrysalis in Lepidoptera. This form contrasts with exarate pupae, in which the appendages are free and the pupa can move relative to the body.

The obtect condition is common in Lepidoptera, where many butterflies and moths form obtect chrysalises, though the degree of protection and attachment can vary. It is also found in some other insect groups, where pupal development occurs within a protective covering.

In taxonomy and descriptions, obtect is used to distinguish pupa morphology and is not a description of behavior. Related terms include exarate (free appendages) and coarctate (pupae enclosed within a puparium, as in Diptera).