The Butterfly Life Cycle

The Butterfly Life Cycle is absolutely fascinating. The butterfly goes through four stages in its life cycle. It is an insect that goes through a complete metamorphosis.

It completely changes from an egg to a larva to a chrysalis to an adult butterfly. Each stage looks very different from the others.

The total butterfly life cycle from egg to adult, may span just one year. The length of time spent in each stage differs from species to species. Some spend the most their time as an egg, others as a chrysalis.

Egg
The first stage of a butterfly's life is the egg. It is laid by a female butterfly on a host plant. A host plant is what the hatched caterpillar will eat. Butterfly starts life as a tiny egg which hatches into an equally tiny larva (caterpillar). Some species produce several generations a year. Several broods of eggs may be laid. Other species produce only one brood a year.

Larva or Caterpillar
This is the eating stage of the butterfly. Caterpillars must grown to full size and then pupate (turn into a chrysalis). So, caterpillars spend a lot of their time eating and resting. If it escapes being eaten by predators then the caterpillar will proceed to the next stage by turning into a chrysalis.

Chrysalis or Pupae
This is the stage where metamorphosis takes place. This brightly colored worm-like creature, shields itself in a chrysalis, then liquefies it's body parts and transforms it's tissues into the amazing fluttering adult butterflies we love to see. Scientists still don't fully understand how this happens. Butterflies do not spin cocoons. Moths spin cocoons. Butterflies develop chrysalis.

Adult
The butterfly is the adult and final form of the insect. The adult butterfly is the fluttering beauty that catches our eyes. Some butterflies are extremely colorful and large. We can't help but notice them. Their main activities consist of sipping moisture, mating and laying eggs. But an adult butterfly's life cycle is short-lived. Some adult butterflies live a few days to a few weeks. The Mourning Cloak may live as long as 10 to 11 months.

They may catch our eye as they fly by. But, the flying life of a butterfly is only part of the story. Each stage of its life cycle is fascinating and unique.


More Butterfly Information

Butterfly Life Cycle
egg
larva
chrysalis
adult

Where to find them
The most common butterfly species
Seven butterfly families
Spring butterflies

Attracting Butterflies
Top nectar plants
Top host plants


Field Guides
Black Butterflies
Mourning Cloak Butterfly
Swallowtail Butterflies

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