Difference Between Chrysalis and Cocoon

The key difference between chrysalis and cocoon is that chrysalis is a name used to refer to pupae of butterflies while cocoon is a kind of primitive nest in which the larval stages of certain animals, including butterflies, moths, leeches and earthworms hatch.

The insect life cycle has at least three stages: eggs, immature stage and adult stage. Some insects have four stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult. Pupa is the stage prior to the adult stage. It is an immature stage. In most of the insects, the pupa stage resides inside a case or a kind of primitive nest. Cocoon is such nest in which pupa mostly lives. Larvae of those insects produce this cocoon as a protective covering for the pupa. Chrysalis is the name given to the pupa stage of butterfly since the different pupae of different insects have different names. Normally, chrysalis lives inside a cocoon.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Chrysalis 
3. What is Cocoon
4. Similarities Between Chrysalis and Cocoon
5. Side by Side Comparison – Chrysalis vs Cocoon in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Chrysalis?

Chrysalis is the name that refers to the pupa stage in the life cycle of the butterfly. Pupa is a stage of the life cycle of certain animals, especially insects. It is a stage between immature and mature stages found in complete morphogenesis. The pupae of different insects have different names.

Chrysalis is the name of a butterfly pupa.  Mosquito pupa is known as a tumbler. Chrysalis shows little movements, but it shows growth and differentiation. Moreover, some pupae of butterflies make sounds in order to scare away predators.

What is Cocoon?

Cocoon is a case or a kind of a nest produced in the larval stage of certain animals such as butterflies, moths, earthworms and turbellaria, etc. They produce this cocoon for the resting of the pupal stage in their life cycle. The cocoons may be tough or soft. Moreover, it can be opaque or translucent, solid or mesh-like, of various colours, or composed of multiple layers. Spiders produce a cocoon which is a fibrous mass in order to cover their eggs. Worms produce a mucous lemon-shaped cocoon around the fertilized eggs. Therefore, these cocoons act as a primitive nest for youngsters to hatch. In some leeches, the cocoon is transparent and remains attached to the parent till they become independent.

Cocoon provides extra warmth and protection from the surrounding environment to the pupae. Generally, cocoons are found hanging from something or buried under the ground or in leaf litter. When pupa turns into adults, they should come out from the cocoon. Therefore, pupae cut the cocoon or secret enzymes to soften the cocoon.

What are the Similarities Between Chrysalis and Cocoon?

• Chrysalis is enclosed in a cocoon.
• Therefore, cocoon serves as a resting nest for the chrysalis.
• Both chrysalis and cocoon are mostly found hanging from something.

What is the Difference Between Chrysalis and Cocoon?

Chrysalis is the pupa of a butterfly. Cocoon is a silk casing or protective covering of insects, especially in moths. Thus, this is the key difference between chrysalis and cocoon.

Summary – Chrysalis vs Cocoon

Different pupae of insects have different names. Chrysalis generally refers to a butterfly pupa. Cocoon is a protective covering for pupa of certain animals, especially moths. It is a silk case that the larvae of moths, and sometimes other insects produce in order to protect the pupa stage. So, this summarizes the difference between chrysalis and cocoon.

Reference:

1. “Cocoon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
2. “Pupa.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Chrysalis(Pupa) of a Common Crow Butterfly (Euploea core)” By Pon Malar – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hercus fontinalis eclosion” By Beatriz Moisset – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia