Data from: Metamorphosis revealed: time-lapse three-dimensional imaging inside a living chrysalis

Studies of model insects have greatly increased our understanding our
animal development. Yet they are limited in scope to this small pool of
model species: a small number of representatives for a hyperdiverse group
with highly varied developmental processes. One factor behind this narrow
scope is the challenging nature of traditional methods of study, such as
histology and dissection, which can preclude quantitative analysis and do
not allow the development of a single individual to be followed. Here we
use high resolution computed tomography to overcome these issues to 3D
image numerous lepidopteran pupae throughout their development. The
resulting models are presented in figures and supplementary videos taken
for a single individual throughout development. They provide new insight
and details of lepidotperan metamorphosis, and allow the measurement of
tracheal and gut volume. Furthermore, this study demonstrates early and
rapid development of the tracheal system – while unresolved in the
caterpillar, tracheae become visible in scans just 12 hours after
pupation. This suggests that there is less remodelling of the tracheal
system than previously expected, and is methodologically important because
the tracheal system is an often-understudied character systems in
development. In the future this form of CT-scanning could allow faster and
detailed developmental studies on a wider range of taxa than is presently
possible.