A butterfly’s complete metamorphosis involves four distinct steps. Starting as an egg, they transform into larva, pupa and ultimately adult wings.
At this stage, caterpillars form a hard outer casing called a chrysalis that appears motionless yet changes dramatically within.
Egg
At the start of a butterfly’s life cycle lies its egg, which can vary in both color and shape. Female butterflies attach their eggs to leaves or stems of suitable plants where their larva will emerge when hatching; typically this process lasts one week depending on species; micropyles allow air and water to enter during development while also serving to protect it as it matures into larval form.
Once eggs hatch into larvae, these voracious eaters consume all parts of the plant where they were hatched – such as leaves or stems – quickly growing into caterpillars that shed their skin several times to become bigger caterpillars. When full size has been reached, caterpillars find a safe spot in which to pupate called a chrysalis; this could be on a branch, under leaves, or underground as is commonly done by moths.
As caterpillars mature, they become capable of producing more eggs each time it grows larger, with this process being controlled by its biological or “circadian” clock. When it’s time to lay more eggs, caterpillars begin shivering and shaking their bodies as an indicator that its time has come for egg laying – signalling another phase of life cycle has started for them.
When female butterflies oviposit their eggs they typically stand erect with wings raised slightly. An inbuilt clock triggers several muscles which control this task in an effortless fashion; she usually chooses an appropriate green leaf as her chosen site for this process and fertilises the eggs using male sperm.
Once a female butterfly has laid her eggs she will begin the search for a suitable mate and will begin laying more. Male butterflies patrol for females by flying around an area searching for suitable matches; sometimes more aggressive pursuit of one may ensue with fierce battles breaking out between rival male butterflies vying for female attention. When an ideal partner is found the male will join his body end-to-end with hers while passing sperm to be stored within her bursa (or sac). Once this process has taken place the female then begins laying her own eggs.
Caterpillar
A caterpillar (Larva) is the second step in the butterfly life cycle. A caterpillar is an insect with fuzzy, worm-like features that hatch from an egg laid by a butterfly, feeding on plants while growing large enough to shed its skin multiple times along its journey. As it approaches maturity, however, a caterpillar prepares to enter pupal stage – when this stage ends it transforms into a butterfly!
The caterpillar then lays a cluster of eggs on the same plant where it fed as larva. These hatch into worm-like caterpillars that feed on plants until they become too big to feed on anymore, with each time its outer skin shed marking its progression into its next instar stage; when reaching its final instar stage it will stop eating and shed all remaining skin to prepare for pupal stage where gasses form within its body that will form wings as it emerges as an adult butterfly.
When a caterpillar forms its chrysalis, it often features camouflaging colors or bright warning hues to prevent predators from discovering it as easy prey. Additionally, they may hang upside down from stems or branches using hook-covered appendages known as cremasters until ready for transformation into adulthood. When its time has come to emerge from its cocoon and transform into adulthood, the caterpillar will move to an appropriate area and secure itself before changing back into its previous state of being.
It takes just a few days for caterpillars to transform into butterflies. While in its chrysalis, a butterfly stops breathing while its organs and tissues digested and reorganized into its adult form. At this stage, its hard, smooth shell may even feature silk mats adorned with tiny spikes for decoration.
Some butterflies whistle during their chrysalis stage to imitate bird calls and dissuade potential predators. When conditions allow, however, chrysalises will open to reveal an adult butterfly; females will soon begin laying their own eggs on different plants.
Chrysalis
Once eggs hatch into larvae or caterpillar-like caterpillars, they become voracious eaters storing energy for future transformations. Once enough energy has been stored up, each caterpillar enters their chrysalis or pupal case where it could remain for several days, weeks, or even months before emerging as a butterfly or moth.
At the chrysalis phase, a caterpillar’s body begins to disassemble and rearrange into that of an adult butterfly, becoming bright green with golden markings and incapable of excretion or defecation during this stage. Furthermore, this process uses up significant energy; some butterflies enter diapause while in their chrysalis to conserve energy until temperatures warm back up again.
While in its chrysalis, a butterfly develops wings ready for flight once emerging into the air, as well as a proboscis to sip nectar from flowers and sip nectar to stay nourished and alive.
As they emerge from their chrysalises, new butterflies’ wings are filled with fluid and appear crumpled and damp. When suspended upside-down, butterflies continue to pump additional fluid into their wings until they dry and strengthen enough for flight.
As soon as its wings have fully developed, the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis and crawls out. Once free, it hangs upside down for up to two hours while waiting for them to dry and expand – which should take no more than that time!
Once their wings are dry and strong, a butterfly is ready to leave their nest to find a mate, lay more eggs, and repeat its cycle of reproduction.
The lifecycle of a butterfly serves as an excellent illustration of life’s circle of life. Female butterflies must first locate an appropriate Larval Host Plant where their eggs will hatch into larvae that feed voraciously for energy before creating their pupal cases, whereupon they transform into adults and fly off again in search of mates to begin the cycle all over again. It is an ideal example to use when explaining each step is essential in reaching its next phase – perfect when teaching children about all the interconnections within life’s cycle! It provides them a wonderful example when discussing each step is essential in reaching its next step – great when explaining this cycle is being repeated!
Adult
At the conclusion of a butterfly life cycle, an adult emerges from its chrysalis. Once out, it crawls out, hangs upside-down, and pumps fluids through its wings to expand them and stretch them out – this takes two hours during which they remain wet and soft – but once complete they can fly away to feed, mate, and start their cycle all over again.
Female butterflies lay clusters of tiny eggs, measuring pinhead size, onto plants using sticky substances that help the eggs adhere. When hatching out, these hatchlings become larvae which feed voraciously and grow rapidly into colorful groups with distinctive markings and features.
Feeding, larvae often shed their skin (known as exoskeleton) through a process known as “molting”. With each molt, the caterpillar develops thicker skin. Each molt marks an instar transition; eventually reaching fourth-instar status before reaching pupal stage and entering puparium stage.
At this stage, a caterpillar undergoes dramatic transformation. Cells in its body break down and rearrange to become wings, eyes, mouth parts and other features characteristic of adult butterflies. This transformation occurs thanks to undifferentiated disks called imaginal disks which function similarly to stem cells in that they can take on whatever role is necessary in order to form adult butterfly features such as wings.
Once the butterfly is ready, they create a simple silk pad on the underside of a leaf or twig and use their hook-covered appendage (called a cremaster ) to attach themselves securely. After doing this they then shed their exoskeletons revealing a chrysalis chrysalis.
At rest, butterfly muscles tighten. Pupal stages may last anywhere from several days to several years for different species. Pupae may overwinter as pupae; when an adult emerges it will find a mate and suckle sperm through its proboscis before starting all over again.