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The J-shaped hanging caterpillar transforms itself into a chrysalis.
The skin behind the caterpillar's neck splits and as the creature wriggles, the skin slides
up towards the hind legs revealing the green chrysalis that has formed inside the larval
skin. Before the old skin can be cast away, the
black post, or cremaster, which has many tiny hooks on its tip, has to be twisted into the
silk button. This is a dangerous moment; if the chrysalis
is clumsy, it could fall to the ground and be eaten by ants.
Gradually the chrysalis hardens into a beautiful jade-colored, smooth case decorated with golden
dots. Inside this jewel, the old caterpillar tissues
gradually transform into an adult butterfly.