The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

1. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly Melissa Smith

2. Butterflies • Butterflies are different from humans • They have four stages of life: • Egg • Larva • Pupa • Adult • Their life cycle is called metamorphosis • Let’s explore the life of a butterfly!

3. First Stage: The Egg • A butterfly starts their life in an egg • The shape of the egg depend on the type of butterfly • Round, oval, big, small • Butterflies eggs are usually laid on leaves of plants • Adult butterflies lay lots of eggs at one time

4. Second Stage: Larva • The egg hatches and the caterpillar’s life starts • A caterpillar is also called a Larva • This stage is all about eating! Yummy! • The caterpillar has to eat a lot so he can grow • The caterpillar mostly eats the leaf that it was born on • When the caterpillar gets as big as he can, he starts molting. • This means he sheds his baby skin

5. Third Stage: Pupa • This stage also called chrysalis • Once the caterpillar is as big as he can get, he forms himself into a pupa. • He finds a tree where he can hang. • It looks like the butterfly is just sleeping but he is actually transforming into a beautiful butterfly!

6. Fourth Stage: Adult • After time has passed, the caterpillar has transformed into a butterfly • The butterfly is ready to come out of the pupa • It takes about 3 or 4 hours for the adult to learn to fly and feel comfortable • Once the butterfly has come out, they look for mates to continue the life cycle • The mommy butterflies lay more eggs on the leaves of trees and the cycle starts all over again!

7. THE END! • http://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml