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Stages of Butterfly life
All butterflies go through 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. http://www.flickr.com/photos/shifted/4516617790/sizes/m/in/photostream -
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Butterfly life cycle
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The four stages
This is the life cycle of a butterfly.
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Eggs
A butterfly starts its life as an egg. The egg is a tiny, round, oval, or cylindrical object. Eggs are laid on the leaves of plants by the adult female butterfly. The egg shape depends on the type of butterfly that laid the egg.
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Larva
The larva, or caterpillar, hatches from an egg and eats leaves or flowers. A caterpillar has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches. The caterpillar molts, loses its old skin, many times as it grows. For the next 2 weeks, the caterpillar will be just eating and growing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813477960/sizes/m/in/photostream/ -
Pupa
The caterpillar changes into a pupa when it is full grown. The pupa of butterflies is also called a chrysalis. The pupa of many butterflies is protected inside a cocoon of silk. The pupa may suspend under a branch, hidden in leaves or buried underground. This is the resting stage. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813664836/sizes/m/in/photostream/ -
Adult Butterfly
After ten days, a butterfly emerges. The first thing that appears is the two wings. Whent the butterfly is an adult, it's in the stage of production and migration. They can fly by using their large and colorful wings. The adult Monarch lives for 2-6 weeks. At the end of its life cycle, it will lay its eggs and the cycle continues. http://www.flickr.com/photos/benimoto/3836891925/
