Does a caterpillar ever come out of its cocoon unchanged?

Nope. Once molted into a pupa, there is no going back, just as you could never un-age into a child again. It will either finish developing and molt into an adult or die somewhere along the way. read more

By the way, there is a “flaw” in the story. Butterflies do NOT come from cocoons – moths do, although there is one very rare species of butterfly in Siberia that spins a cocoon. You will find the difference in these two words explained in our FAQ and also the glossary. Once a little boy was playing outdoors and found a fascinating caterpillar. read more

After spending most of its life eating, a caterpillar finds a safe spot to pupate and forms a protective shell, called a chrysalis, around its body. Moth caterpillars may spin a silk cocoon to protect the chrysalis until the moth is ready to emerge. The cocoon starts out soft, but gradually hardens to offer better protection. read more

Instead they make a chrysalis or a pupa, which is mostly brown or green so it will blend in with its surroundings while the butterfly develops inside. As the butterfly changes, the chrysalis will also change its shape. After the butterfly emerges, its wings are slightly moist, and it is tired from struggling free from the pupa. read more