The Life Cycle Of A Butterfly By Tina

The Life Cycle Of A Butterfly By Tina Michelle Alexander

Introduction Butterflies soar so high but did you know that before a butterfly could fly it had to go through four stages. Do you know them?

Stage 1 The Egg – The egg is the very first step in the life cycle of the butterfly. – The butterfly eggs are very small and round. – Females tend to lay their eggs near plants that the caterpillar will eat on once it emerges.

Stage 2 The caterpillar hatches from the egg. It is also referred to as larva. Caterpillars spend most of their time eating. It gains strength and all the body-building materials that a butterfly will need is developed at this stage. A caterpillar sheds it’s skin (molts) several times because it’s exoskeleton can’t stretch or grow.

Stage 3 Pupa When a caterpillar is finished growing it forms a Pupa. Inside the Pupa the caterpillar is making it’s transformation into a butterfly. Most of the caterpillars organs have dissolved and the organs, tissue and limbs are starting to form for the adult. Chrysalises is the name of the butterfly pupae.

STAGE 4 Adult A butterfly becomes and adult when the Pupa molts once more. The butterfly emerges with its wings to its side and is able to spread them by pumping blood to the wings. This stage is when the butterfly is ready to mate and produce. Females lay their eggs on plants and various surfaces.