pupa; chrysalis
Refers to the stage in an insect's life cycle between larva and adult.
The butterfly's chrysalis is a beautiful green color.
I wonder what kind of adult insect will emerge from this pupa.
蛹 is a more common word for 'pupa' or 'chrysalis', while 蛹虫 is a technical term.
Compound of 蛹 (pupa) and 虫 (insect). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning.