Science Says So: How Do Caterpillars Get Their Wings?

A common misconception about metamorphosis is that caterpillars turn into “goo” inside the chrysalis and then somehow reform into adult butterflies from nothing—but that’s not actually what happens. 

In this video, Nipam Patel, Director of the Marine Biological Laboratory, explains what really occurs during metamorphosis and how caterpillars develop their adult structures. 

This is the first video in MBL’s new series, “Science Says So,” where scientists debunk common science misconceptions through short educational explainers featuring images and videos from their own research at the MBL.

Credits: 

Produced by Cathy Ching; Edited by Cathy Ching; Narrated by Nipam Patel; Real-time science by Gabrielle Jerz; Metamorphosis videos by Aaron Pomerantz, Damien Gailly, Rachel Thayer, Vanessa Cardui, Nipam Patel; Still images by Gabrielle Jerz, Dee Sullivan.