Some ants spin silk cocoons for their pupae, others do not— some ants will use cocoons when the colony is small and then switch to “naked pupae” when they have the numbers to better maintain ideal humidity.
The pupae is still, frozen— but very much alive— her body is in the midst of the most violent stage of metamorphosis— Slowly crystallizing from formless larvae into the highly structured and purposeful form of an adult ant. 🐜
@futurebird this is reminding me of one of Alan Dean Foster's books set in his human-thranx commonwealth that's only from the point of view of the insect thranx. Metamorphosis sounds terrifying to live through even if you're designed for it!
@futurebird ur use of words 'frozen' and 'crystalize' strike me as oddly spooky! actually... pupa wld be opposite of frozen cuz everythig is DRASTICALLY being rearranged as we watch?