Finally, the abdomen of a butterfly contains the digestive system, the heart, and the reproduc- tive organs. Life Cycle Butterflies are rather famous for their complex life cycle. The first stage is the egg, which may vary greatly in size and shape. Eggs are laid by the mother singly or in clusters, depending on the species. Mostly eggs are deposited by the female on a spe- cific type of host plant so that the caterpillars can hatch and immediately indulge in their first meal.
Most eggs hatch in a few days to reveal the second stage of the life cycle, the larvae.
Although it may be hard to distinguish, caterpillars also have a head, thorax, and abdomen. Caterpillars are eating machines. Most feed on leaves, but others feed on flowers, fruits or seeds, and still others may prey on insects or con- sume wool or feathers. The larvae grow quickly and may reach one hundred times the size of their hatching form in just a couple of weeks. To accomplish this they must molt four times.