What does pupa mean?
A pupa is the transitional stage in the life cycle of many insects, occurring after the larval stage and before adulthood. During this period, the insect undergoes metamorphosis, with its tissues and body structures reorganized into the adult form. In butterflies and moths, the pupa is often called a chrysalis, although chrysalis is more specifically associated with those insects. Some caterpillars spin a protective cocoon around themselves before becoming pupae, but the cocoon is the casing rather than the developmental stage itself. The word is used in scientific and educational contexts as well as in descriptions of butterfly and moth development. Pupa comes from Latin, where the word referred to a doll or a small figure, an image connected with the idea of a body in an enclosed or transformed state.
nounThe inactive, usually enclosed stage in the life cycle of many insects, following the larval stage and preceding the adult stage. In butterflies and moths, the pupal stage is commonly called the chrysalis, while in many other insects the pupa may be enclosed in a cocoon or formed beneath the ground.
- The stage of an insect’s life cycle between the larva and the adult, during which metamorphosis occurs.
- The chrysalis or pupal casing of a butterfly or moth.
"The caterpillar entered its pupa and remained still while its adult form developed inside."
"The monarch caterpillar formed a green pupa on the underside of a branch."
"Researchers studied how temperature changes affect development during the pupal stage."
The standard plural is pupae, although pupas is also encountered in general writing.
"Several pupae were attached to the underside of the leaves."
A pupa is a transformation in waiting: inside it, a larva quietly rebuilds itself into a winged adult.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pupa come from?
The word pupa comes from Latin pupa, meaning “doll” or “little figure,” and entered English as a zoological term for an insect’s pre-adult stage. The modern scientific sense developed from the broader idea of a form enclosed during a transformation. Latin pupa also lies behind forms such as pupillus, “little boy,” and pupilla, “little girl,” which ultimately relate to the English words pupil and pupillary.
Related word forms
How pupa is actually used
In general entomological usage, pupa is the technical term for the stage itself, while chrysalis and cocoon often refer more specifically to a butterfly or moth pupa and its protective covering. “Pupa” is used in British and American English.
Easily confused with pupa
A pupa is the insect’s developmental stage, whereas a cocoon is the protective casing that may contain a pupa, especially in moths.
A chrysalis is specifically the pupa of a butterfly or moth; pupa is the general term for the corresponding stage in many insects.