pupal

Pupal is an adjective relating to a pupa, the life stage between larva and adult in insects that undergo complete metamorphosis. In groups such as butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and flies, development proceeds from egg to larva to pupa, then to the adult. During the pupal stage, growth and tissue reorganization occur without feeding.

Pupae may be enclosed and protected, as in a chrysalis (butterflies) or a silk cocoon (many moths), or they may be naked, as in some beetles and other groups. Some pupae are mobile or have hardened coverings that anchor to substrates. Eclosion is the process by which the adult emerges from the pupal case. The duration of the pupal stage varies widely, influenced by species, temperature, and environmental conditions; some species overwinter as pupae. The pupal stage serves as a period of metamorphosis, allowing larval organs to be replaced by adult structures such as wings, reproductive organs, and sensory systems.