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The Adult Butterfly Life: Short but Sweet
The Adult butterfly has but a brief time to carry out its mission. After two or three weeks, the newly formed butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. It is now an adult. It's wings are crumbled and small in size. It is unable to fly. The wings harden within a hour or so. The butterfly pumps liquid through the veins of the wings to stretch and expand them to their true size. Otherwise the wings will harden and be deformed. This time is also when the straw-like butterfly tongue, the proboscis, is fused into one piece from two halves. It is this tube-like tongue which sips nectar from plants. When it is just about ready to take off, the butterfly secretes waste from its body. It is a fluid called meconium. It is the liquid left over from the metamorphosis process. Now, it is ready to fly. It begins the last phase of it's life cycle. The adult butterfly spends it's brief life looking for a mate, mating and laying eggs (females). Mating may take up to fifteen hours in some species. Butterflies link together while flying or sitting. Most butterfly females will lay about 100 to 300 eggs, but some lay dozens or thousands. To get nourishment and energy during all the mating and laying eggs, a butterfly sips nectar or other substances. Some butterflies dine on the "juices" from carrion (dead animals) or dung. Some species die after a few days or weeks of life But, others like Monarchs, migrate to warmer climates. Some like the Mourning Cloaks, overwinter as adults in hollow trees or underneath bark. With the mating and laying of eggs, it's mission is accomplished. The butterfly life cycle is complete.
From Adult Butterfly Return to Butterfly Life Cycle
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