Life Cycles

• A butterfly lays eggs on the leaves of a plant.
• These eggs hatch and young ones called larvae or caterpillars come out of the eggs.
• The caterpillar first feeds on the egg shell from which it is born.
• It then starts feeding on the leaves and starts to grow.
• The caterpillar sheds its skin several times so that it can grow.
• Once the caterpillar is big enough, it stops eating.
• It then forms a protective layer around itself, a stage called chrysalis.
• In the chrysalis, the caterpillar is now called pupa.
• The pupa remains motionless in the chrysalis.
• Inside the chrysalis, the pupa undergoes a series of changes.
• After about 15 days, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges out of the chrysalis.
• When the butterfly comes out, its wings are small and wet.
• The butterfly pumps fluids into its wings to make them strong and to expand.
• After a few hours, the wings become strong enough and the butterfly is able to fly.
• These series of changes in the life cycle of a butterfly are called metamorphosis.