Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
puparium

puparium

1 9.9
A hard outer shell that some insect larvae make to protect the developing insect inside
  • noun
  • /ˌpjuːˈpɛəriəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pupario
  • The skin becomes a home, or puparium, until the next spring, when the insect makes its amusing debut as a fly.

Examples

  • "A fly that has just climbed out of its puparium looks as if it has a tiny balloon on its head.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The fly fills it with blood, forcing the puparium to crack open so the fly can escape.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The fly fills its body with blood until the puparium cracks open, allowing it to escape.

  • The life cycle of the insect moves from egg to larva, and finally to the protective puparium.

  • After forming a puparium, the insect remains safe as it develops into its adult form.

Synonyms

cocoon
vspuparium
50 3.0

A soft silk cover that an insect makes to protect itself before becoming an adult

is a hardened outer case formed by larvae rather than a spun silk covering
chrysalis
vspuparium
12 8.1

A hard case in which a caterpillar turns into a butterfly or moth

is the general hardened case formed by various insect larvae not only butterflies

How Protective

puparium
  • Specialized
1 9.9
chrysalis
12 8.1
cocoon
50 3.0
naked
30 3.2

Surface Forms

puparium singular
puparia plural

Morphology

puparium = pupa (transparent) = pupa + rium

Formed from the noun 'pupa' plus the Latin-derived suffix '-rium' meaning a thing or container, so the sense 'the case associated with a pupa' is directly derivable though technical.

Etymology

The word puparium comes from pupa, an old word meaning 'doll' or 'puppet', with the ending -arium meaning 'place'. So you can think of a puparium as a hard 'doll house' or shell that protects an insect while it changes into an adult.