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Stage 1: Egg
A butterfly lays an egg. The egg is tiny and round. The female attaches the eggs to leaves, stems or other objects, usually close to the food for the catepillar. The butterfiles are very picky about where they lay their eggs because caterpllars are very picky about what they will eat! -
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The Butterfly Cycle
Butterflies go through a life cycle called metamorphosis. There are 4 stages in the life cycle of a butterfly: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Check out the website:
www.butterflyschool.org -
Stage 2: Larva (Catepillar)
The larva (or catepillar) is the long, worm like stage of the butterfly. It has interesting patterns of stripes or patches. It may have spine-like hairs. It is the feeding and growth stage. The caterplillar only has one job: to eat! As the larva grows, it sheds its skin 4 times or more to enclose its fast growing body. -
Stage 3: Pupa (Chrysalis)
The pupa (or chrysalis) is the transformation stage. The catepillar tissues are broken down and the body of the catepillar is turning into an adult butterfly! The chrysalis of most butterflies is brown or green and blends into the background. -
Stage 4: Adult
The adult is a colorful butterfly. It is the reproductive and mobile stage for the species. The adults mate and lay eggs. The adult butterfly migrates and makes new habitats.
