Unlike most butterflies, this species pupates underground.
Recent Examples on the WebAfter a period of growth and development, the larva pupates, forming a protective cocoon around itself.—The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Caterpillars that pupate into cocoons in the fall will overwinter until warmer spring temperatures arrive.—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Nov. 2023 After feeding for two weeks, the larva spins a cocoon to pupate.—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 Four weeks later, the larva forms a hard shell and pupates, emerging as an adult five to seven days later.—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 Native to the Americas, the larvae of these parasitic insects eat their host spiders while simultaneously controlling their minds, inducing the spiders to spin a cocoon the wasps will use to pupate into adults.—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2020 Soon enough, the eggs hatch, eat, pupate, and emerge while the cockroach sits and waits for its body to be consumed.—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2011 The larvae develop inside the beetle, and after about 20 days, a single larva emerges, ready to pupate and transition into an adult wasp.—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2015 The lake is known for thick, black clusters of brine flies by the billions, which pupate in its salty water then gather in dense mats to reproduce on shore.—Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pupate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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