coarctate pupa

zoology

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June 24, 2026

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A coarctate pupa is a specific type of pupa found in insects that undergo complete metamorphosis. In this form, the pupa is enclosed within the hardened exoskeleton of the last larval stage. This differs from other pupal types, such as the exarate pupa where appendages are free, or the obtect pupa where appendages are fused to the pupal skin. The coarctate pupa is a stage where the insect transforms from a larva into an adult, with larval structures breaking down and adult features developing. This stage is particularly noted in certain insect orders.12

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insect
Types of larvae
…glued to the body; and coarctate, which is essentially exarate but remaining covered by the cast skins (exuviae) of the next to the last larval instar (name given to the form of an insect between molts).
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…glued to the body; and coarctate, which is essentially exarate but remaining covered by the cast skins (exuviae) of the next to the last larval instar (name given to the form of an insect between molts).
Read More