At its final stage, a caterpillar searches out a safe place and constructs an encasing called a chrysalis. Though this structure seems motionless at first glance, incredible processes are underway inside.
Special butterfly cells transform into the wings, legs and eyes of adult butterflies in this demanding process, which may take between 1-14 months depending on species.
Egg
No discussion of butterflies would be complete without looking at their life cycle. As with other insects, butterflies go through complete metamorphosis as they pass through four distinct stages – egg, larva, pupa and adult phases – on their journey from egg to adulthood. Each butterfly completes this cycle once, before finding a mate and reproducing fertilized eggs to restart it all over again.
Female butterflies lay their translucent eggs on specific plant species known as host plants. These eggs may resemble bullets, discs, turbans or spheres and range in color from pearly white to bark brown and rusty red; their egg stage lasts only days before their development is completed and they become darker over time.
Once an egg hatches, it transforms into a larva, or caterpillar. A larva feeds voraciously and spends most of its time feeding. As it matures and stores food for future consumption, its skin sheds off periodically as its body expands.
As a butterfly larva, its life is subject to weather conditions, parasites, predators and predators; many butterflies don’t make it past this stage and many that do may only last a month or two before laying more eggs to begin another cycle.
Once a larva matures, it transitions to pupal stage (plural: pupae). This dormant stage offers protection from most threats while at the same time being an opportunity for growth and development. For protection, butterflies construct chrysalises or cocoons which protect themselves during this dormant state.
Keep an eye out while strolling through the Garden for caterpillars snacking away at plant roots, then seek out their chrysalises in depressions on stems or tree trunks. You might just spot one emerge and fly off in search of love; after which visit our Conservatory where more species from around the world reside in our tropical vivarium; generous support is provided by Eileen P. Bernard Exhibition Fund.
Caterpillar
While in its larval stage, a caterpillar consumes food continuously while also molting, or shedding of its outer skin, to increase in size by several orders of magnitude over its course of development. As soon as its body size reaches 100 times greater than before it creates a hard case called a chrysalis or cocoon for protection during its transformation into an adult butterfly or moth.
Inside its cocoon or chrysalis, specialized cells begin to divide. Over time, these will become the caterpillar’s wings, eyes and other adult parts; at the same time, cells from its muscles, gut and salivary glands are digested for use as spare parts in its new insect form. Spines or even preliminary wings may even appear by this point, providing extra protection from predators or harsh weather conditions.
The caterpillar can only eat during its larval stage and must consume large amounts of food in order to gain energy for its transformation into an adult. Once transformed, it will emerge from its cocoon or chrysalis and test out its wings, antennae, and other parts before mating with another caterpillar before laying more eggs to continue its cycle of reproduction.
As soon as the caterpillar emerges from its chrysalis, it will crawl out and hang upside-down to allow its wings to stretch and dry completely before inflating and becoming ready for flight. This process may take up to two hours until its wings have fully expanded for flight.
Adult butterflies and moths fly about, sipping liquid food using their long, flexible tongue. As it uncoils to suckle up fluid, its coiling back into its spiral once no longer in use. Butterflies and moths can also pierce rotting fruit or animals to get essential nutrition.
Chrysalis
As depicted by The Hungry Caterpillar story, once a caterpillar reaches its final instar it makes the decision to become a butterfly and sheds its skin several times over, starting from its head and moving down its body until all skin has been shed off (this usually takes several attempts). Once in J-shape it crawls away from its host plant in search of an undisturbed location to form its chrysalis; attaches silk pads at various spots around its host surface; does wiggly little dance while hanging there dangling as it sheds off all its last bits of caterpillar skin from its body in order to complete transformation into butterfly wings!
David James of Entomology International notes that the inside of a chrysalis is typically just a mass of slime; but thanks to new technology scientists can watch as caterpillar body parts come together and transform into butterflies – it’s remarkable. Scientists can even watch “wings coming together and the genitalia getting formed.” He adds this fast metamorphosis is among any vertebrate animal.
Old caterpillar cells disassemble into what are known as “imaginal discs.” From here, cells develop rapidly into structures of a butterfly: eyes, antennae, wings and legs all emerge quickly within this gooey mass of cells; however, digestive system, airway and brain remain undisturbed by this process.
As you might imagine, the chrysalis is not very large – “if you weigh it before and 24 hours after formation it has lost nearly 50% of its weight,” according to James – because caterpillars eat themselves from within!
Once a chrysalis has developed for five to 21 days, its color changes and then it changes once again as its contents change into that of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon sack of goo. When emerging, the butterfly does a stretch like one would after awakening after being in an automobile trip; then its wings fill up with blood before gradually straightening and taking flight.
Adult
Once a caterpillar reaches maturity, it stops eating and forms a protective shell-like covering known as a chrysalis to keep itself safe. This may be suspended from a leaf or branch; for other species it could even take place underground – its length depending on species can range anywhere between several weeks to several years! Within its protective chrysalis it goes through metamorphosis which requires significant energy expenditure that results in half its original weight being shed as part of this transformation process.
As soon as a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, its first noticeable feature will be its crinkled wings. Following a short rest period, however, they begin pumping fluid into their wings in order to straighten them and get ready to fly!
After resting for several hours, the butterfly pumps blood into its wings to develop them to their maximum length – only then does the search for a mate begin!
Female butterflies produce many eggs to increase the chances that at least some will hatch and become adults. She deposits them on leaves of specific types of plants known as hosts; each species of butterfly has a host plant which provides nourishment during its larval stages.
Eggs vary in shape, surface decoration and colour according to species but all are small in size and shape; depending on their species they could range from being tiny dots up to being as big as peas! Female caterpillars deposit their eggs on suitable leaves or surfaces near to where the caterpillar plans on finding food sources – sometimes nearby or directly beneath it!
Caterpillars progress from egg to pupa via a series of instars. When reaching its final instar, it begins molting several times and prepares to form its chrysalis. At each molt stage, its body enlarges to accommodate for its rapid development as it enters pupal stage.
Native plants provide an ideal habitat for caterpillars and butterflies to flourish in. Over millions of years, caterpillars and butterflies have co-evolved alongside each other, each stage in their development requiring its own specific environment – by planting native flowers, shrubs, or trees in your garden, you can help preserve this natural relationship!