This essential package, created over a period of time, can have up to half the weight of the butterfly.Īfter mating, the female must locate an appropriate host plant in a place with favourable conditions – another complex course of action. In the process of mating, the male passes to the female a package containing sperm as well as nutrients for the eggs and for the female herself – a so-called “nuptial gift”. There are also similarities between butterflies of unrelated species, therefore finding a suitable partner is a challenge. In some species, males and females look very similar. The life cycle begins with the mating of a male and female of the same species. Nonetheless, the transformation from a caterpillar to butterfly is awe-inspiring. Only a small percentage of the eggs develop into a butterfly because of the complexity of the process and the numerous dangers along the way. Indeed, analogies can be drawn between the transformation that occurs in the life cycle of a butterfly and the spiritual destiny of humanity as alluded to in the Holy Scriptures and other spiritual writings.Ī butterfly life cycle consists of four basic stages – egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. It’s not surprising that the transformation of an unsightly crawling caterpillar into a strikingly beautiful airborne butterfly has been seen in spiritual terms – such as a symbol of the transfiguration of the human soul at death. And yes, the tender shoots of the cycad were indeed devoured by the caterpillars hatched from the eggs laid by the blue butterflies. Our marvel may increase as we reflect on where the beautiful butterfly came from – a clumsy, earthbound caterpillar that during its maturing stages can be highly destructive. Watching the flight of a colourful butterfly from flower to flower cannot help but elicit a sense of awe and wonder. While I knew it spelled trouble for the new shoots, the fragile, gentle, seemingly defenseless creatures fascinated me.īutterflies come in various colours, shapes and sizes. The small blue butterflies gracefully hovered over the young shoots of the cycad (trunkless plant with palm-like leaves). This article traces the process of butterfly metamorphosis and points out spiritual parallels to human salvation as soul transformation.īutterfly Metamorphosis – Spiritual Parallels Lessons from the Apostle Paul’s Spiritual Life.
0 kommentar(er)
