Butterfly Life Cycle

The butterfly life cycle is one of the most amazing changes in nature. It has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A tiny egg becomes a hungry caterpillar. The caterpillar forms a chrysalis. Inside, its whole body changes into a beautiful butterfly.

Caterpillar Stage

A butterfly starts life as a tiny egg on a leaf. A caterpillar hatches from the egg and starts eating right away. It eats so much that it outgrows its skin several times. Each time, it sheds the old skin and a new, bigger skin is underneath. Some caterpillars grow 100 times their original size.

The Chrysalis and Beyond

When the caterpillar is big enough, it forms a hard shell called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, something magical happens. The caterpillar's body breaks down and rebuilds into a butterfly. After about two weeks, the butterfly pushes out of the chrysalis. It pumps blood into its new wings and flies away.

Fun Facts

• A monarch caterpillar grows about 2,700 times its birth weight in just two weeks.
• Some butterflies can taste with their feet to find the right plant for their eggs.
• The painted lady butterfly has been found flying at altitudes of nearly 10,000 feet.

Did You Know?

Inside a chrysalis, the caterpillar's body almost completely turns into liquid before it rebuilds into a butterfly. It is one of the biggest transformations in the animal kingdom!