Data from: The ‘dance’ of life: visualizing metamorphosis during pupation in the blow fly Calliphora vicina by X-ray video imaging and micro-computed tomography

The dramatic metamorphosis from larva to adult of insect orders such as
Diptera cannot usually be witnessed because it occurs within an opaque
structure. For the cyclorrhaphous dipterans, such as blow flies, this
structure is the puparium, formed from the larval cuticle. Here, we reveal
metamorphosis within the puparium of a blow fly at higher temporal
resolution than previously possible with two-dimensional time-lapse videos
created using the X-ray within a micro-computed tomography scanner,
imaging development at 1 min and 2 min intervals. Our studies confirm that
the most profound morphological changes occur during just 0.5% of the
intrapuparial period (approx. equivalent to 1.25 h at 24°C) and
demonstrate the significant potential of this technique to complement
other methods for the study of developmental changes, such as hormone
control and gene expression. We hope this will stimulate a renewed
interest among students and researchers in the study of morphology and its
astonishing transformation engendered by metamorphosis.