Housefly metamorphosis (first of four images). Macrophotograph of a housefly, Musca domestica, undergoing metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is the transfor

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Housefly metamorphosis (first of four images). Macrophotograph of a housefly, Musca domestica, undergoing metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is the transformation from an immature form (larva) into an adult. Here the adult form is emerging from the top of its pupa. The pupa was the dormant stage in which it changed body shape. The fly breaks out of the pupa by pumping blood from its abdomen into an inflatable sac (white, upper centre) which projects from its head. The fly's eye is the brown object on the side of this sack. After emerging the fly inflates its wings and waits for its soft body to harden. (See also Z340/422-424).

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Size: 2931px × 4217px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, domestica, fly, housefly, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, metamorphosis, musca, nature, wildlife, zoology