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May 12th, 2003
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Q. Why do some aquatic insects need a pupal stage to become adults and others don't? This may be a "why is the sky blue, daddy?" type question, but I have always been amazed at how many ways nature accomplishes the same task with different processes.
A.
Recent research in this field has determined that
the main purpose of the pupal state in insect
development is to provide those insects that do
not have external wing pads a stage in their
development where the wings can develop outside
the body. A second part of the pupal development
then allows the wing muscles to develop within the
thorax of the insect's body. Dr. Bruce Wallace of
the University of Georgia helped me with this
information.
Some signficance has been place upon the evolutionary
aspects of the amount of food provided by the size of
the egg in determining whether a pupal stage is necessary.
However, this has largely been discounted as the major
purpose of the pupal stage.
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The 'Stream Doctor' is a retired professional stream ecologist and
author, now living in the West and spending way too much time
fly-fishing. You are invited to submit questions relating to
anything stream related directly to him for use in this Q & A Feature
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