Science · Life cycles
Butterfly life cycle
Egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly.
What is a life cycle?
A life cycle shows how a living thing grows and changes. Every animal has a life cycle from birth to adult. Butterflies have four special stages in their life cycle. Each stage looks completely different from the others. Let's explore how a tiny egg becomes a beautiful butterfly!
Stage 1: The egg
A butterfly starts as a tiny egg. The mother butterfly lays eggs on leaves. The eggs are often smaller than a grain of rice. Inside each egg, a baby caterpillar is growing. After a few days, the egg hatches and out comes a caterpillar.
Stage 2: The caterpillar (larva)
The caterpillar is the eating and growing stage. A larva is the young form of an insect. The caterpillar munches leaves all day long. It grows bigger and bigger, shedding its skin several times. This stage lasts about two weeks.
Stage 3: The chrysalis (pupa)
When the caterpillar is fully grown, it forms a chrysalis. A chrysalis is a hard shell where the caterpillar changes. The pupa is another name for this resting stage. Inside, the caterpillar's body completely transforms into a butterfly. This amazing change takes one to two weeks.
Stage 4: The butterfly (adult)
Finally, an adult butterfly breaks out of the chrysalis. Its wings are wet and crumpled at first. The butterfly pumps fluid into its wings to stretch them out. Once its wings dry, it can fly away. The butterfly drinks nectar and lays eggs to start the cycle again.
Worked examples
1. Put the butterfly life cycle in the correct order: chrysalis, butterfly, egg, caterpillar.
- The life cycle always starts with the egg stage.
- After the egg hatches, the caterpillar stage comes next.
- The caterpillar then forms a chrysalis to change inside.
- Finally, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.
- Correct order: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly.
2. A caterpillar has just formed a hard shell around itself. What stage is it in?
- The hard shell is called a chrysalis.
- The chrysalis is the third stage of the life cycle.
- Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
- Answer: The caterpillar is now in the chrysalis (pupa) stage.
3. What does a butterfly do that starts the life cycle all over again?
- The adult butterfly is the final stage.
- Adult butterflies can reproduce by laying eggs.
- The butterfly lays tiny eggs on leaves.
- These eggs will hatch into caterpillars, starting the cycle again.
- Answer: The butterfly lays eggs.
Try it yourself
A butterfly has just laid tiny eggs on a leaf. What will hatch from the eggs?
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