The Life Cycle of Butterfly

The Life Cycle of Butterfly

Let’s explore a butterfly’s life cycle in detail, including all four stages of life. All butterflies have complete metamorphosis. To grow into an adult they go through 4 stages : egg à larva à pupa à adult (imago). Each stage has a different goal - for instance, caterpillars need to eat a lot, and adults need to reproduce. Depending on the type of butterfly, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from one month to a whole year.  

The egg is a tiny, round, oval, or cylindrical object, usually with fine ribs and other microscopic structures. The female attaches the egg to leaves, stems, or other objects, usually on or near the intended caterpillar food. The caterpillar (or larva) is often has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches, and it may have spine-like hairs. It is the feeding and growth stage. As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its rapidly growing body.

The chrysalis (or pupa) is the transformation stage within which the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect's structures are formed. The chrysalis of most species is brown or green and blends into the background. Many species overwinter in this stage. The adult (or imago) is colorful butterfly or moth usually seen. It is the reproductive and mobile stage for the species. The adults undergo courtship, mating, and egg-laying. The adult butterfly or moth is also the stage that migrates or colonizes new habitats.

            The word butterfly came from the English word Buttorfleoge. Perhaps because, in mediaeval times, butterflies could be seen hovering around butterchurns or that their excrement is yellowish in colour. Butterflies could be a mark for pollution level area with it colour wings. The dark colour means that the area has high level polution. But the bright colour means that the area has clean air and low level pollution. 

Source : http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle