Strange Changes

One of the most fascinating processes in nature is metamorphosis.

Any discussion of metamorphosis must by nature encompass insects, as their metamorphoses are considerably more noticeable and complex than those of most other creatures. (Wikipedia's article omits any information on crustacean metamorphosis [which admittedly is generally universally similar-the larval stages are small swimming or floating creatures, and the adults are comparitively large, slow-moving bottom feeders]. Shame, Wikipedia, shame.)

In fact, metamorphosis among insects has in many cases become remarkably specialized and functional. Far from the common simplification of "incomplete and complete metamorphoses" which we assign to insects, insect metamorphosis is incredibly varied. For instance, the ant lion (or doodlebug, so-called because it walks backwards, and thus meanders a lot) only lives long enough in its adult stage to reproduce, a common insect feature. The adult form is retained purely because its flight grants mobility. (Note: You do learn new things every day if you let yourself, even if you're an enthusiast-I had never heard of owlflies before.)

Or take the blister beetle, which is hypermetamorphic. (Awesome.) What that means is that the blister beetle's larvae can shift between multiple different larval types (the types being "nymph," "caterpillar," "grub," and "maggot," more or less) depending on its needs (as I understand it, they shift between "grub" and "maggot" because they parasitize their prey and can also winter as a somewhat nymph-like form).

Or take the bizarre case of the mealybug (and the scale insects in general), whose sexual dimorphism is unique-the females remain in squishy, weird larval forms their entire lives, while the males metamorphose into flying adult forms in order to find mates elsewhere. (It should be noted that mealybugs, like aphids and certain other pest insects, both can give birth to live young and are capable of reproducing without mating. They say that some aphids are actually literally born pregnant, making them a real-life counterpart to the tribble.)

Then there's the mayfly, the only creature in nature who confuses the old classification of "adult" versus "immature" descriptions of insect stages. Why? It's the only variety of insect that molts after it has fully developed its wings, the usual marker that a winged species has reached adulthood. (Just why it does so is somewhat unclear-the molting process is time consuming and difficult [I know because I've seen it-I live in mayfly central], and it doesn't seem like it would really be necessary to do so. It's just an odd thing they do.) Its "subimago" form is covered in fine, water-repellent hairs which are necessary for the mayfly to escape the water and fly, and for whatever reason, it feels the need to shed its "hairy" stage before it mates and dies a few hours later. (Taking a quick shave would be easier, dude.)

There may be other oddballs that I haven't heard of or have forgotten, but these are strange enough.

-Signing off.