A Photographer Has Captured A Fascinating Series Of Macro Photos Of Butterfly Pupae, Which Gives A Look At Their Various Designs.
The photographer, Levon Biss, has captured images of live butterfly pupae. Insects are metamorphosing from lysae to their adult form, meaning all the insects you see in the photos will soon emerge as butterflies.
The macro photos were taken at Stratford Butterfly Farm in the UK and were made using the photo stacking technique due to their size. Most of the species included in this collection are Asian.
These photos are part of an ongoing project that explores the diversity of design in nature. From egg to pupa or cocoon, nature creates a fantastic range of designs, often unique to a particular species.
Many otherworldly and exotic insect pupae have evolved to be deceptive in appearance and act as essential camouflage from potential predators by impersonating plants and the surrounding environment.
Biss says the photos are intended to entertain and educate, allowing the viewer to appreciate the diversity of the subject while also understanding the intricate details that evolution has created.
Biss tells the American Museum of Natural History:
I don’t think people understand the importance of insects and what they do for us as a species and the entire planet. We must know that they are important, and because they are hard to see, we cannot ignore them.
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