Butterfly

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

By WKKrantz

  • Migration

    Migration
    In February or March butterflies mirgrate to the north to find a mate and to lay their eggs.

  • Egg

    Egg
    In March or April, the butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants.

  • Caterpillar

    Caterpillar
    After four days, the egg hatches and becomes a caterpillar.

  • Pupa

    Pupa
    After two weeks, the caterpillar forms a pupa.

  • Emerging

    Emerging
    After ten days, the caterpillar emerges from the pupa.

  • Butterfly

    Butterfly
    The caterpillar has become a butterfly! The butterfly will live between two to six weeks before laying eggs, dying, and starting the life cycle over again. This will happen for the next three life cycles.

  • mirgartion

    mirgartion
    The fourth, and last generation of the year, will mirgrate to the south for the winter.

  • Hibernation

    Hibernation
    The butterflies will hibernate in the south and live for six to eight months before starting the next year's life cycle over again.