Butterflies

[topum]

I wonder if butterflies remember their lives as caterpillars after the metamorphosis. Is it like "Wow this is freaking awesome! I am flying! I love this shit!" Or do they just start from scratch?

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

They start from scratch. Within the chrysalis, if I recall correctly, their entire neural system rearranges, along with everything else.

[topum.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I think at this point I am developing a somewhat unhealthy fascination with butterflies' lifecycle.

[itsjustc.livejournal.com]

I'd never thought about it before....

But thanks for the information. I'd have been pondering about it all night!

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Metamorphosis goes from fairly boring (in humans) to completely deranged (in starfish.) Butterflies are a lot closer to the deranged end of that continuum, but it does get weirder.

[topum.livejournal.com]

Now I have to google the starfish.
Hello, Youtube! Got any starfish metamorphosis?

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

They probably don't talk a lot about the weirdest bits because they're at the fringes of biology. Young starfish are bilaterally symmetric and swim around, then later on develop extra arms, fold up, move where their mouths are, and discard a chunk of their previous bodies in becoming full-fledged starfish. In one species it's sufficiently extreme that in essence an adult starfish forms inside the juvenile starfish, pops out, and the juvenile form swims off and then dies later. It's like they're two different forms of life jammed into one set of DNA (which some biologists have suggested is exactly what they are.)

[topum.livejournal.com]

Oh my. This has to be thoroughly youtubed now.
You are a dangerous friend to have.

[prorsus.livejournal.com]

And if they did remember they wouldn't necessarily think it was awesome to be able to fly.

[topum.livejournal.com]

True, I can totally see some of them going 'F...k! WTF is this?? Bloody hell, this colours do nothing for me. Life was so good, I had all the food I needed literary under my feet. I lived on my food. Now I have to flap these bloody wings all day long. Thanks! Just thanks!'

[prorsus.livejournal.com]

LOL