Usually the bigger butterfly wins the mating game, just as they win battles between male butterflies. In scientific circles, this is sometimes referred to as pupa rape.

A cocoon is distinct from both a pupa and chrysalis. It is a hard, silk shell that a moth larva weaves around itself before it enters the pupa stage of metamorphosis.

Each day, hundreds of butterflies and pupae are shipped out by overnight mail. Individual butterflies--about $5 each--are packed into glassine envelopes with an ice pack to slow down their metabolism.

The pupae of this butterfly are gray or green and are very unique in how it is constructed. While most pupae hang down, this pupae project outward at a 90 degree angle from the area where it is ...

To minimize this risk, we rear larger larvae individually in small plastic shot cups. Miami Blue butterfly pupae, padded and ready for the trip to south Florida. Credit: Kristen Grace, CC BY-ND Our ...

To find out how and why some butterfly species survive fires, UF/IFAS scientists tested pupae in two North Florida forests that are typically managed with prescribed burns.