LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY METAMORPHOSIS Biology Mr

LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY METAMORPHOSIS Biology Mr. Hutto June 15, 2011

Metamorphosis – Life Cycle of Butterflies • Eggs are first stage • They are tiny, sometimes microscopic • Laid on the underside of host plant leaves • Hatching predetermined by time eggs are laid

Caterpillars – The Feeding Stage • Minute, some virtually invisible to naked eye • Coloration of caterpillar is quite diverse • Job of caterpillar is to eat, eat • Caterpillars must shed skin several times, each shedding called an instar • Can multiply in size more than a thousand fold • When final instar occurs, pupa emerges

Pupa – The Transition Stage • Transformation in pupa stage is miraculous • What emerges in no way resembles the caterpillar • Complete disassembly of the cells and reassembling of cells into new form • The butterfly emerges from this stage

Adult Butterfly – The Reproductive Stage • Upon emerging, the swollen body pumps fluid into tiny shrived up wings • Within a few hours, wings are full sized, dried, and become more rigid • Butterflies are ready to take flight • The job of the adult is to mate and lay eggs • Most live only one or two weeks

All photographs courtesy of The Academy of Natural Sciences http: //www. ansp. org/museum/but terflies/life_cycle. php