Rhantus suturalis

THE larva OF THE PREVIOUS PAGE HAS TOTALLY CHANGED AFTER A WEEK. It has become a pupa. Under the pupal skin the perfect beetle is almost ready. I don't know whether the larva has a moult just before the pupal stage. The large compound eyes of the beetle are visible through the pupal skin. Also the legs and wings have developed. After some hours the pupal skin will tear open, along the seam which is just visible on the neck shield. Then the beetle emerges from the pupa, so the pupal stage is very short compared to, for example, a butterfly pupa that often hibernates for months. The Rhantus beetles have a short developing time. As is written on the larva page this is necessary because the little pools which are their habitats, often dry out quick and the beetle must be ready to fly.
On the "snout", head and back the pupa has stiff hairs that carry it, so it lies free from the surrounding mud. This probably avoids fungus and keeps the air around the pupa fresh while the pupa is resting motionless until the beetle starts stirring in it's envelope.