Many insects, however, are engendered in a different manner; and some more especially from dew. This dew settles
upon the radish[1] leaf in the early days of spring; but when it
has been thickened by the action of the sun, it becomes reduced to the size of a grain of millet. From this a small grub
afterwards arises, which, at the end of three days, becomes
transformed into a caterpillar. For several successive days
it still increases in size, but remains motionless, and covered
with a hard husk. It moves only when touched, and is
covered with a web like that of the spider. In this state it
is called a chrysalis, but after the husk is broken, it flies forth
in the shape of a butterfly.
1.