The Pupa stage lasts from a week to many months if diapause occurs.- Does not eat during this stage.
- Suspended from a silk pad attached to a twig.
- A Cremaster is a support hook attached to the Pupa, which is attached to the silk pad.
- Some species of Swallowtail and Sulfurs have a silk girdle supporting their mid-section.
- In some species, the Pupa becomes completely transparent, revealing the adult butterfly inside 24 hours before hatching.
- There is little movement. However, some species are capable of making sounds or vibrations to scare off predators.
- A few species use chemical defenses including toxic secretions to protect themselves while in this stage.
- Camouflage is used to evade potential predators.