pupa

[pyoo-puh] /ˈpyu pə/

noun, plural pupae

[pyoo-pee] /ˈpyu pi/ (Show IPA), pupas.

an insect in the nonfeeding, usually immobile, transformation stage between the larva and the imago.

Origin

1765-70; < New Latin, special use of Latin pūpa girl, doll, puppet. See pupil¹, puppet

Related forms

pupal, adjective

Examples from the web for pupa

The mature larva forms a pupa and transforms into the adult insect which is a gray to brown colored moth with a one inch wingspan.
When they reach full size, they attach to a leaf by their tail, and a pupa is formed.
Once out of the pupa, the damp butterfly inflates its wings with blood stored in its abdomen.
Empty fly pupa were found with the kids' remains, indicating that maggots ate their flesh during natural decomposition.
While in the chrysalis, the butterfly is in the pupa stage of its life.
When caterpillars emerge from their nests, they feed off the trees until they reach the pupa stage or the tree loses its leaves.
We managed to extricate it and put the pupa in a jar.
It needs leafy plants to store up energy for the chrysalis or pupa stage.
The pupa usually does not eat or move around much, but a lot of internal changes take place.
The swallowtail is less visible when it enters the pupa stage.

British Dictionary definitions for pupa

pupa

/ˈpjuːpə/

noun (pl) -pae (-piː), -pas

an insect at the immobile nonfeeding stage of development between larva and adult, when many internal changes occur See coarctate, exarate, obtect

Derived Forms

pupal, adjective

Word Origin

C19: via New Latin, from Latin: a doll, puppet

Word Origin and History for pupa

"post-larval stage of an insect," 1773, special use by Linnæus (1758) of Latin pupa "girl, doll, puppet" (see pupil (n.1)) on notion of "undeveloped creature." Related: Pupal; pupiform.

pupa in Science

pupa

(py'pə)

Plural pupae (py'pē)
An insect in the nonfeeding stage of development between the larva and adult, during which it typically undergoes a complete transformation within a protective cocoon or hardened case. Only certain kinds of insects, such as moths, butterflies, ants, and beetles, develop as larvae and pupae. Compare imago, larva, nymph.