Butterflies I hope all of the Suite101 readers had time to look over the web sites on butterflies that I posted in part one of this butterfly series. If you didn't get a chance to preview the websites I listed, they are still posted for you to look at them. Let's get started with part two of Butterflies in the Heartlands which will encompass food requirements for their larval stage and nectar plants for the adult stage.
Butterflies go through a four stage developmental process known as metamorphosis.
The four stages are egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and adult. Understanding a butterfly's life cycle can help make your butterfly watching more enjoyable. Also, the knowledge of each stage will be an important asset to you for attracting butterflies to your gardens. Depending on the species, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from about one month to an entire year. Plants that attract butterflies are mainly classified as those that are a food source, a nectar source, or both.