pupa vs. chrysalis

[Anne Kilmer]

"Stanley A. Gorodenski" wrote:
> 
> I always thought of 'chrysalis' applying to butterflies also, but now
> that the subject is brought up, it somehow doesn't seem to fit a
> skipper.
> 

The word chrysalis refers to the gold decorations which many butterfly
pupae sport.
I think skippers probably don't have those sparkly stripes and spots.
Sub-fusc and concealed in the herbage anyway, aren't they?
The separation of butterflies, skippers and moths IMHO is arbitrary and
aesthetic in nature, rather than having any entomological validity. We
class skippers with butterflies because folks that like butterflies also
often like skippers, not because they are particularly butterfly-ish. 
Anne Kilmer
South Florida

 
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