Food eaten at this time is stored and used later as an adult. Caterpillars grow 100 times their size during this stage of development. It forms a chrysalis and goes into a type of hibernation. On the outside it looks like nothing is going on but changes are occurring inside the pupa that we can't see. The internal systems are reorganizing and transforming into adult structures.
Pupae can be inside a cocoon, suspended from a tree, or buried under ground.
This stage can last from a few weeks to a month. Some species have a pupal stage that lasts for two years. The Reproductive Stage Adult butterflies and moths do not molt. The adult lifespan can range from a few weeks to several months depending on the species of butterfly. Adult butterflies that hibernate could actually live much longer.