The majestic swallowtail (Papilio machaon) spends the winter in a state of deep rest: as a pupa (chrysalis). The second-generation caterpillar pupates in late summer, often on a stem or a wall, and enters a so-called diapause. Within this inconspicuous shell, the future butterfly braves the cold until the warmth of spring awakens it to hatch. The pupa is perfectly camouflaged to survive the long wait unscathed.
[Photo: Reto Künzler, Bern]
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