Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is defined as the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

For example: The life cycle of the ant consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Fertilised eggs produce female ants (queens, workers, or soldiers); whereas unfertilised eggs produce male ants.

Egg are soft like jelly and are oval in shape. They are one mm in size.

Eggs are hatched into white coloured larvae with no eyes or legs developed.

The larvae when reached its maximum size develops into a pupa which is considered as the resting period. In this stage, their legs and antennae are folded against their bodies.

The final stage is called adult. Adult can be classified as either queen, worker or male.

Tringggggg.

The electric bell rang.

We will continue the notes tomorrow, said Suganti in a loud voice collecting her notebooks and brown color speck box.

Leena packed her bag and left to the gate looking exhausted.

What happened baby? Why you look tired?

Mama, I hate science. My mam gives us tremendous amount of notes making my hand swell and I don't understand a bit. I miss my Maya mam. She taught us with live examples. But this mam is giving only notes.

Mama looked at her with full concentration.

I will solve your problem dear, now cheer up.

Mama has made healthy fruit salad for you. Once we reach home let's munch that and go for cycling.

What you say?

Okay, Leena nodded half-mindedly.

She immediately posted on her whatsApp group created six months ago by Maya and replies started popping up. She wasn't satisfied with the replies but her mind said she may mind a way by tomorrow morning.

The next morning, as soon as she got up, she went upstairs to water the Tulsi plant. While watering them, she saw the small chicks playing inside the cage.

I must clean it, she said to herself and lifted the cage slightly up. Beneath it was a plastic sheet to collect their exectera. When she folded the sheets into two halves, she couldn't believe what her eyes saw.

An ant colony.

Leena, she yelled.

She immediately took a closer look. The ant colony consisted of soldiers carrying white eggs, few big sized queen ant with wings and male ants doing nothing. The morning rays have created chaos amidst the colony but it was a lucky moment to her.

She immediately ran down and grabbed her phone and macro lens.

Leena who was gargling her mouth rushed behind her to terrace followed by thier little fury friend Sofie.

Sit down. Don't touch or shout. Just see what I am showing you, Mama summoned to both the kids.

The eggs, larvae, pupa and adult is organised that is arranged in a particular style. This is called as ant colony where the transformation of a egg to an adult takes place. This process is called as

Metamorphosis, Leena answered.

Very Good!

Can you see multiple oval size jelly here looking similar to sago?

Yes mama.

These are the ant's eggs laid by the female.

The female has wings and once it lays eggs, its wings are tear off. And, remember not all eggs turns into adults. Few are eaten by their mates considering it as food.

Oh its too unfair mama.

This is the cycle of nature dear.

So what is the next stage?

Lava.

Good, Larvae is it's next stage. During this stage no organs are formed but they are fed regularly. Nicely fed larvae turn into queen and leastly fed larvae turn into a worker.

Now tell me who will live longer Leena?

Obviously, the queen mama because its eats more than others.

Brilliant

And workers cant lay eggs but do all household works like cleaning, shifting the eggs, searching for food etc and they don't have wings.

Mama then how can you differentiate between the queen and the worker?

Queen will be twice the size of a worker leena!

Remember they eat more!

Yeah! Mama, you know so many things. Better you can replace my science teacher.

Now you listen dear, said mama bringing her back to the topic.

Also, there are few ants which will be of medium size knows as male which has a short life span than all.

They don't work so they die soon sophie, leena giggled to which Sophie wagged his tail rapidly.

Mama, how long will these changes takes place.

It varies from several weeks to months dear but ants are considered to be social workers because they always remain active and work longer and you can't see them idle!

Yes mama, I can see that. Can you take a picture of this colony. I wilI will show to my mam and get a golden star!

Why not, let's do it, quickly answered mama.

The next 15 minutes Meera took the close up shots of ant colony and she arranged its life cycle in the same order for a better understanding.

She took a colour printout and gave it to Leena whose face glowed like the morning sunlight!

Bubye mama, I love you and the fruit salad you gave was delicious!

Let's have today as well:) and you know what

"You made science interesting" and you're the best mom!!

It's my pleasure dear, mama replied, her cheecks filled with pimples turned pink!

As Leena bid adieu, she forwarded the images to the whatsappe group and uploaded it on the nat geo website with the name!

Meera - A nature love and nurturer turned macro photographer.