Butterfly Life Cycle | Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Home » Explore » Online Exhibits » Butterflies! » Butterfly Life Cycle Butterfly Life Cycle The butterfly and moth develop through a process called metamorphosis. This is a Greek word that means transformation or change in shape. Insects have two common types of metamorphosis. Grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, and cockroaches have incomplete metamorphosis. The young (called a nymph) usually look like small adults but without the wings. Butterflies, moths, beetles, flies and bees have complete metamorphosis. The young (called a larva instead of a nymph) is very different from the adults. It also usually eats different types of food. There are four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Egg Eggs are laid on plants by the adult female butterfly. These plants will then become the food for the hatching caterpillars. Eggs can be laid from spring, summer or fall. This depends on the species of butterfly. Females lay a lot of eggs at once so that at least some of them survive.

Butterfly eggs can be very small. Caterpillar: The Feeding Stage The next stage is the larva. This is also called a caterpillar if the insect is a butterfly or a moth. The job of the caterpillar is to eat and eat and eat. As the caterpillar grows it splits its skin and sheds it about 4 or 5 times. Food eaten at this time is stored and used later as an adult. Caterpillars can grow 100 times their size during this stage. For example, a monarch butterfly egg is the size of a pinhead and the caterpillar that hatches from this tiny egg isn't much bigger. But it will grow up to 2 inches long in several weeks. Pupa: The Transition Stage When the caterpillar is full grown and stops eating, it becomes a pupa. The pupa of butterflies is also called a chrysalis. Depending on the species, the pupa may suspended under a branch, hidden in leaves or buried underground. The pupa of many moths is protected inside a coccoon of silk. This stage can last from a few weeks, a month or even longer. Some species have a pupal stage that lasts for two years.

It may look like nothing is going on but big changes are happening inside. Special cells that were present in the larva are now growing rapidly. They will become the legs, wings, eyes and other parts of the adult butterfly. Many of the original larva cells will provide energy for these growing adult cells. Adult: The Reproductive Stage The adult stage is what most people think of when they think of butterflies. They look very different from the larva. The caterpillar has a few tiny eyes, stubby legs and very short antennae. The adults have long legs, long antennae, and compound eyes. They can also fly by using their large and colorful wings. The one thing they can't do is grow. The caterpillar's job was to eat. The adult's job is to mate and lay eggs. Some species of adult butterflies get energy by feeding on nectar from flowers but many species don't feed at all. Flying comes in handy. The adult female can easily fly from place to place to find the right plant for its eggs. This is important because caterpillars can't travel far. Most adult butterflies live only one or two weeks, but some species hibernate during the winter and may live several months.

The Lifecycle of a Butterfly The Lifecycle of a Butterfly The Lifecycle of a Butterfly The Lifecycle of a Butterfly Butterflies go through a life cycle. A butterfly has four stages in its life cycle. Each stage is different. Each stage also has a different goal. A butterfly becoming an adult is called metamorphosis. The life cycle process can take a month to year. It depends on the type of butterfly. Stage 1: Eggs In the first stage a girl butterfly lays eggs. A butterfly first starts out as an egg. A girl butterfly lays the eggs on a leaf. She lays the eggs really close together. The eggs are really small and round. About five days after the eggs are laid. A tiny worm-like creature will hatch from the egg. Stage 2: Caterpillar (Larve) The second stage is the caterpillar. A caterpillar is sometimes called larve. A caterpillar is a long creature. It looks like a worm. Most caterpillars have a cool pattern. This pattern has stripes or patches. The caterpillar is hungry once it has hatched. It starts to eat leaves and flowers. It eats these all the time. It first eats the leaf that it was born on. This is the eating and growing stage.

A caterpillar grows really fast. This is because they eat a lot. A caterpillar is really small when it is born. It starts to grow fast. This is because it eats all the time. It grows so fast that it becomes too big for its skin. So the caterpillar has to shed its old skin. It then gets new skin. Caterpillars shed their skin four or more times while they are growing. A caterpillar shedding its outgrown skin is called molting. Caterpillars do not stay in this stage very long. While they are in this stage, all they do is eat. Stage 3: Chrysalis (Pupa) Stage three is the chrysalis. This is when the caterpillar is done growing. The caterpillar makes a chrysalis. Another name for a chrysalis is a pupa. It is mostly brown or green. It is the same color as the things around it. Things like the trees, leaves, or branches. This is so that other animals cannot see it. This protects them. This keeps them from getting hurt. This is the resting stage. It also is the changing stage. The caterpillar starts to changes.

It starts to turn into a butterfly. It starts to look different. Its shape starts to change. It changes quickly. It then turns into a butterfly. All this happens in the chrysalis. This does not take a long time. Stage 4: Butterly (Adult) (Imago) In stage four, the chrysalis opens. Soon a butterfly comes out. A butterfly is sometimes called an imago. It is also called an adult. Butterflies are very colorful. When the butterfly first comes out its wings are damp. The wings are also soft. The wings are folded against its body. The butterfly is also very tired. So the butterfly rests. Once the butterfly has rested, it will be ready to start flying. It will start to pump blood into its wings. This is to get them working and flapping. After it does this, it can now learn to fly. Butterflies cannot fly good at first. They need a lot of practice. It does not take long for them to learn. They learn fast. When it can fly, it will go look for food. The butterfly will also go look for a mate. It will soon find a mate. It will then lay eggs.

The lifecycle will start all over again. Summary Butterflies go through a life cycle. There are four stages. The first stage is the eggs. This is where a girl butterfly lays eggs. She lays them on a leaf. The second stage is the caterpillar. This is where the eggs hatch. It takes about five days for the eggs to hatch. A caterpillar then comes out. At this stage, the caterpillar eats all the time. It also grows really fast. Once it is all the way grown, the third stage starts. This stage is the chrysalis. The caterpillar makes a chrysalis. The caterpillar is inside the chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, it starts to change. It soon changes into a butterfly. Once the caterpillar has changed into a butterfly, the fourth stage starts. This is also that last stage in the life cycle. The fourth stage is the butterfly. A butterfly comes out of the chrysalis. It can now learn to fly. It can also find a mate. When it finds a mate, it lays eggs. Then the lifecycle process starts all over again. There are many different kinds of butterflies.

Here are some different kinds: Monarch: This is the most known butterfly in North America. This butterfly has orange and black wings. In the fall they go to Mexico. Painted Lady: Also called the thistle butterfly. This butterfly is everywhere in North America. The wings are orange and brown. The tips of its wings have black and white spots. Viceroy: This butterfly is the same color as a Monarch. But it is smaller than a monarch. This butterfly is everywhere in the United States. Red-Spotted Purple: This type of butterfly has many different colors. The top of the wings are blue. There are small red and white dots on the tops of the wings. The bottoms of its wings are a red and brown color. It also has orange spots. This butterfly flies fast. It is hard to catch. They like to sit on rotting fruit. They also like to sit in gardens. Buckeye: This butterfly is seen in the United States. It is also in some places in Mexico. This butterfly is brown and orange. It also has patterns on its wings. These patterns look like eyes. These are used to scare off predators. This scares off other animals because it does not look like a butterfly.

Zebra Longwing: This butterfly has black and white stripes. It also likes the warm weather. It lives in Mexico and the United States. These butterflies eat pollen. They also live longer than many other kinds of butterflies. Fun Facts about Butterflies Butterflies taste with their feet. Butterflies do not have mouths. Butterflies need sun to fly. Butterflies fly during the day. Butterflies can see some colors. They can see red, yellow, and green. Butterflies cannot fly if they are too cold. They need to be warm to fly. Butterflies have their skeleton on the outside of their body. This is to protect them. It keeps the water inside of their body. This is good because they do not dry out. The wings of a butterfly are transparent. The wings of a butterfly have tiny scales. These give their wings color. This is why they do not look transparent to us. Butterfly Life Cycle: Article with Lots of Pictures Butterfly Life Cycle / Butterfly Metamorphosis Bees in Hive The Butterfly Life Cycle Letï¿½s explore a butterflyï¿½s life cycle in detail, including all four stages of life.

All butterflies have "complete metamorphosis." To grow into an adult they go through 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Each stage has a different goal - for instance, caterpillars need to eat a lot, and adults need to reproduce. Depending on the type of butterfly, the life cycle of a butterfly may take anywhere from one month to a whole year. You can print out this Butterfly Life Cycle coloring page to follow along as we talk about the 4 stages. The First Stage: The Egg Butterfly Eggs on a Leaf A butterfly starts life as a very small, round, oval or cylindrical egg. The coolest thing about butterfly eggs, especially monarch butterfly eggs, is that if you look close enough you can actually see the tiny caterpillar growing inside of it. Some butterfly eggs may be round, some oval and some may be ribbed while others may have other features. The egg shape depends on the type of butterfly that laid the egg. Butterfly eggs are usually laid on the leaves of plants, so if you are actively searching for these very tiny eggs, you will have to take some time and examine quite a few leaves in order to find some.

The Second Stage: The Larva (Caterpillar) Butterfly Caterpillar When the egg finally hatches, most of you would expect for a butterfly to emerge, right? Well, not exactly. In the butterflyï¿½s life cycle, there are four stages and this is only the second stage. Butterfly larvae are actually what we call caterpillars. Caterpillars do not stay in this stage for very long and mostly, in this stage all they do is eat. When the egg hatches, the caterpillar will start his work and eat the leaf they were born onto. This is really important because the mother butterfly needs to lay her eggs on the type of leaf the caterpillar will eat ï¿½ each caterpillar type likes only certain types of leaves. Since they are tiny and can not travel to a new plant, the caterpillar needs to hatch on the kind of leaf it wants to eat. Caterpillars need to eat and eat so they can grow quickly. When a caterpillar is born, they are extremely small. When they start eating, they instantly start growing and expanding.

Their exoskeleton (skin) does not stretch or grow, so they grow by ï¿½moltingï¿½ (sheding the outgrown skin) several times while it grows. The Third Stage: Pupa (Chrysalis) Caterpillar Becoming a Chrysalis The pupa stage is one of the coolest stages of a butterflyï¿½s life. As soon as a caterpillar is done growing and they have reached their full length/weight, they form themselves into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis. From the outside of the pupa, it looks as if the caterpillar may just be resting, but the inside is where all of the action is. Inside of the pupa, the caterpillar is rapidly changing. Monarch Caterpillar Becoming a Chrysalis Now, as most people know, caterpillars are short, stubby and have no wings at all. Within the chrysalis the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called ï¿½metamorphosis,ï¿½ to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge.

Tissue, limbs and organs of a caterpillar have all been changed by the time the pupa is finished, and is now ready for the final stage of a butterflyï¿½s life cycle. The Children's Butterfly Site The Children's Butterfly Site English | Français | Deutsch | Español | Italiano | Nederlands Life Cycle of Butterflies and Moths As advanced insects, butterflies and moths have a "complete" life cycle. This means that there are four separate stages, each of which looks completely different and serves a different purpose in the life of the insect. This is the life cycle of the Monarch (Danaus plexippus). The egg is a tiny, round, oval, or cylindrical object, usually with fine ribs and other microscopic structures. The female attaches the egg to leaves, stems, or other objects, usually on or near the intended caterpillar food. (Note: photograph is a Snowberry Clearwing egg.) The caterpillar (or larva) is the long, worm-like stage of the butterfly or moth. It often has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches, and it may have spine-like hairs. It is the feeding and growth stage.

As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its rapidly growing body. The chrysalis (or pupa) is the transformation stage within which the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect's structures are formed. The chrysalis of most species is brown or green and blends into the background. Many species overwinter in this stage. The adult (or imago) is colorful butterfly or moth usually seen. It is the reproductive and mobile stage for the species. The adults undergo courtship, mating, and egg-laying. The adult butterfly or moth is also the stage that migrates or colonizes new habitats. The butterfly pictured here is a Monarch, which is fairly large in size. The Monarch's wingspan is 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches (8.6 - 12.4 cm). Monarch Butterfly Site: Life Cycle, Migration, Pictures, News, More!

Insects > Monarch Butterflies > Monarch Butterflies The King of Butterflies ï¿½ The Monarch Butterfly Monarch butterflies are the most beautiful of all butterflies, some say, and are considered the ï¿½kingï¿½ of the butterflies, hence the name ï¿½monarchï¿½. There are lots of very cool things to learn about the monarch butterfly and weï¿½ll try to get through most of them here. Monarch Caterpillar Becoming a Chrysalis Monarch Emerging from a Chrysalis The Life Cycle(s) of a Monarch Butterfly Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle, and through four generations in one year. Itï¿½s a little confusing but keep reading and you will understand. The four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle are the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. The four generations are actually four different butterflies going through these four stages during one year until it is time to start over again with stage one and generation one. In February and March, the final generation of hibernating monarch butterflies comes out of hibernation to find a mate.

They then migrate north and east in order to find a place to lay their eggs. This starts stage one and generation one of the new year for the monarch butterfly. In March and April the eggs are laid on milkweed plants. They hatch into baby caterpillars, also called the larvae. It takes about four days for the eggs to hatch. Then the baby caterpillar doesnï¿½t do much more than eat the milkweed in order to grow. After about two weeks, the caterpillar will be fully-grown and find a place to attach itself so that it can start the process of metamorphosis. It will attach itself to a stem or a leaf using silk and transform into a chrysalis. Although, from the outside, the 10 days of the chrysalis phase seems to be a time when nothing is happening, it is really a time of rapid change. Within the chrysalis the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called metamorphosis, to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge.

The monarch butterfly will emerge from the pupa and fly away, feeding on flowers and just enjoying the short life it has left, which is only about two to six weeks. This first generation monarch butterfly will then die after laying eggs for generation number two. The second generation of monarch butterflies is born in May and June, and then the third generation will be born in July and August. These monarch butterflies will go through exactly the same four stage life cycle as the first generation did, dying two to six weeks after it becomes a beautiful monarch butterfly. The fourth generation of monarch butterflies is a little bit different than the first three generations. The fourth generation is born in September and October and goes through exactly the same process as the first, second and third generations except for one part. The fourth generation of monarch butterflies does not die after two to six weeks. Instead, this generation of monarch butterflies migrates to warmer climates like Mexico and California and will live for six to eight months until it is time to start the whole process over again. It is amazing how the four generations of monarch butterflies works out so that the monarch population can continue to live on throughout the years, but not become overpopulated.

Mother Nature sure has some cool ways of doing things, doesnï¿½t she? Our articles are free for you to copy and distribute. Make sure to give credit for the article. Butterfly Life Cycle, Butterfly Metamorphosis, Egg, Larva, Pupa : Gardens With Wings Articles - Information About Butterflies, Caterpillars & Plants The Mysteries of Life November 2008 by Regina Cutter Edwards Butterflies go through four stages in life that are considered to be great mysteries. They are real survivors even with life’s many twists and turns. Butterflies have been able to adapt and make it through unimaginable obstacles. Butterflies are holometabolous, experiencing a complete metamorphosis, or in other words, a complete change in body form. They begin life as a larva and pupate into an immobile state and emerge as a butterfly, looking nothing like their pre-pupated state. Read on to learn more about these complicated yet fascinating stages of a butterfly’s life! Butterfly Egg The butterfly egg is spherical or ovate shaped, varying in color and size. It is covered by chorion, a hard shell that protects the egg, and is lined with a waxy layer that prevents dehydration.

It is full of nutrients and is commonly the first meal for the newly hatched larva. There is a small opening called a micropyle which allows sperm to enter the egg for fertilization while inside the female. To protect the egg and embryo that is forming, the eggs are attached to a leaf by the butterfly using an adhesive-like substance that glues the egg to the plant leaf. The nature of the “glue” is still fairly unknown in the scientific community. For protection, the eggs are often laid on the underneath side of the leaf so as not to be visible to predators. It is essential for the eggs to be laid on the host plant for that particular butterfly species. Eggs are sometimes laid in groups, although many butterflies such as the Monarch lay their eggs singly. The average time for the embryo to develop is 7-14 days but in instances where the egg is the overwintering stage, the embryo may take months to develop. Butterfly Larva (Caterpillar) The larva stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is a time for growth. The larva, also known as a caterpillar, spends its time eating and growing.

The caterpillars feed on their host plants, which can range from a single species to many different species. As caterpillars grow, they shed their exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is their support and protective structure outside their body. This process is called molting or ecdysis and is triggered primarily by hormones. The caterpillar forms a new cuticle underneath the old cuticle. Enzymes are secreted between the layers dissolving the muscle attachments to the old cuticle so the new cuticle can form without being exposed and the old cuticle can be shed. Each stage between molts is called an instar. Caterpillars usually have five instars before pupating, in which the same molting process occurs. Caterpillars have developed some interesting techniques to protect themselves. A common characteristic is camouflaging. Many caterpillars resemble plant parts, bird droppings, or may just look frightening to scare off predators. Many swallowtail caterpillars have huge ‘eye spots’ on their thorax regions and are able to inflate their body so that they appear snake-like.

Swallowtail caterpillars also have an osmeterium, an interesting looking Y-shaped gland that protrudes out from above their head producing a smelly scent. A few caterpillars are brightly colored and they usually are able to save plant toxin in their bodies, making them poisonous to predators. Or, they may mimic other poisonous caterpillars while being completely harmless. The same is true for caterpillars that are covered in body hairs - some have stinging body hairs to prevent getting eaten. As the caterpillar reaches the final instar, the wing pads have already begun developing. Right before the pupa stage the pads are forced out by the hemolymph, insect ‘blood,’ and by the time the larva has shed the exoskeleton to form the pupa, the wings are strongly attached to the body. This is why you can see the shape of the wings on the chrysalis. Pupa (Chrysalis) The pupa stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is a time for complete change. The pupa is also known as a chrysalis and is a vessel in which the slow moving caterpillar changes into a winged butterfly.

The process begins with the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) triggering the caterpillar to quit eating and start wandering to a place to pupate, which is usually on twigs or other safe areas around their host plants but not necessarily on the host plants. Some butterfly species that over winter as a chrysalis may pupate in the leaf litter close to the ground. The chrysalis is immobile so it is important that it be camouflaged into the environment. For example, the Spicebush Swallowtail’s chrysalis takes on a brown or green color depending on the color of the environment. Many chrysalides are leaf shaped and vary in color from yellow, brown, green to silver and gold. Some chrysalides have the ability to wiggle and make a hissing sound in order to frighten predators. Butterflies go through a really amazing metamorphosis when being transformed from a caterpillar to an adult. The process inside the chrysalis is very intense. The insect’s body basically is liquefied by digestive fluids and the body is restructured using specialized formative cells. This process is called histogenesis, in which undifferentiated cells are used to build different body tissues.

This is similar to the building of tissues that can be done with stem cells in other animals. Adult Butterfly The adult stage of the butterfly’s life cycle is a time for reproduction. The adult is also known as an imago, they have fully developed wings and are sexually mature. When the adult first emerges from the chrysalis, their wings are wet and crinkled. They are able to pump fluid through their bodies into the wings to help them expand. Once their wings are fully expanded, they may take 30 minutes up to a couple hours to dry. They are then ready to fly. Many times right after the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis there will be a colored fluid that is released from the chrysalis, this is meconium, excess fluid the butterfly did not need. The adult butterfly’s primary instinctive behavior in life is to search for a mate of the same species and produce viable offspring to carry on their genes. This includes making sure the eggs are laid on the correct host plant. Some butterflies lay their eggs in groups, while others lay them singly because the first instar caterpillars can be cannibalistic and will eat the other eggs.

Predictability of Life Butterflies have been around for millions of years. They have evolved to withstand many obstacles they have encountered throughout the years, including predators and environmental occurrences. The dramatic differences in their life stages have given them the extra benefit of the larva and adult not having to compete with one another for resources, such as food. These mysteries to us have proven over time to be the predictable life for a butterfly. View an illustration of the life cycle of a Black Swallowtail as it transforms from egg to larva (caterpillar) to pupa (chrysalis) to adult. Photo Credits: Fred Miller and Diane P. Brooks References: Borror, D. J., Triplehorn C.A., Johnson, N.F. 1992. An Introduction to the Study of Insects (6th Ed). New York: Saunders College Publishing. Powell, J.A. 2003. Lepidoptera (Moths, Butterflies). Encyclopedia of insects. Ed. Vincent H. Resh, Ring T. Cardé. New York: Academic Press. p 631-664. Riddiford, L.M. 2003. Molting.

Encyclopedia of insects. Ed. Vincent H. Resh, Ring T. Cardé. New York: Academic Press. p 733-738. Enter your zip code: Chrysalis Chrysalis Make a monthly pledge. Becoming a monthly donor is an easy and efficient way for you to support Chrysalis’ life-changing services. Butterfly Q&A :: Florida Museum of Natural History Megalodon Q: What is a Butterfly? A: A butterfly is a type of insect. Insects are distinguished from all other animals by having an external skeleton (a hard outer covering), three main body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen) and three pairs of jointed legs (all attached to the thorax). Butterflies belong to the order of insects called Lepidoptera, which means "scaled wings." Q: How many species of Lepidoptera are there? A: There are approximately 265,000 species of butterflies and moths. Only about 20,000 are butterflies. Q: What are the differences between a butterfly and a moth?

A: Butterflies and moths are quite similar, but basic differences include: Most butterflies fly during the day. Most moths fly at night. Butterflies are often more colorful than moths - they attract mates with color (visible in daytime) and sleep at night. Night-flying moths attract mates by smell, while their colors camouflage them in daytime resting places. Most butterflies have club-shaped antennae. Moth antennae are feather-like or taper to a point. Male moth antennae can be more elaborate than female antennae. The increased surface area allows males to pick up scents (female pheromones) of potential mates from a longer distance. Male butterflies rely less on scent and more on vision in the search for mates. Moths have a thicker coating of scales than butterflies, giving them a furry appearance Why? Moths fly at night and do not have the sun to warm their bodies for flight, as do butterflies. Instead, moths generate heat internally by vibrating their muscles and their heavy scales insulate them against heat loss. Q: How long does a butterfly live? A: In the wild, most butterflies live about 7 to 10 days, if not eaten first.

In captivity, butterflies can survive for 2 to 3 weeks. Some species of butterflies modify their nectar diet to include rotten fruit, pollen and animal excrement, and can live as long as 3 to 6 months, or even longer. The modified diet provides the butterflies with valuable amino acids that can help prolong life spans. Q: What are the stages of a butterfly's life cycle? A: There are four stages in the life cycle of a butterfly: the egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis and the adult. Briefly, a butterfly starts as an egg. After about 4 to 5 days (some species take up to 3 weeks or longer), the egg hatches and a tiny larva (caterpillar) emerges. The larva starts to eat and will shed its skin 4 to 6 times as it gets bigger and bigger. After about 2 to 4 weeks, the larva will be full-grown and transforms itself into a pupa/chrysalis. Inside the pupa, the caterpillar's body breaks down into a kind of soup and is reorganized into the adult structures of the butterfly!

This stage can take between 10 to 15 days. Finally, the adult butterfly emerges from the pupa. Adult butterflies will mate, the female will lay eggs and the life cycle starts over. The whole process is called metamorphosis, which means "change of form." Q: What is the difference between a pupa, chrysalis and a cocoon? A: Pupa and chrysalis have the same meaning: the transformation stage between the larva and the adult. While pupa can refer to this naked stage in either a butterfly or moth, chrysalis is strictly used for the butterfly pupa. A cocoon is the silk casing that a moth caterpillar spins around it before it turns into a pupa. When the larval stage of some butterfly species is fully grown, it spins a button of silk and attaches the hind-most prolegs to it and hangs upside down in the "J" position in order to pupate (some actually sit in an upright position). This is the larva's final molt as it transforms to a chrysalis. Many butterfly pupae are cryptic and blend into their surroundings. Q: What is the largest butterfly in the world?

A: Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest butterfly in the world, with a wingspan up to 1 foot (30 cm). This tropical butterfly is from the Rainforest in northern Papua New Guinea. The larvae eat the pipevine, a vine which contains poison; this makes the butterfly toxic to predators, which will get sick if they eat it. They quickly learn to leave these huge butterflies alone. Q: What is the largest moth in the world? A: The Atlas Moth is found throughout the jungles of Southeast Asia, and particularly in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The Atlas Moth adult has a wingspan of 1 foot (30 cm). This moth is so large that it is often mistaken for a small bird when it is flying! The Atlas Moth's cocoon looks like a piece of fruit hanging from a tree. The Atlas does all its eating as a larva; the adult moth has no mouth and cannot eat. Q: What is the smallest butterfly in the world? A: This is often said to be the Pigmy Blue from the USA that is about 0.62 of an inch (1.5 cm) across the wings. Q: What is the smallest moth in the world?

A: The Nepticulid moth, which is 0.1 inch long. Q: Are butterflies important? A: Yes! They are important pollinators of flowering plants, much like bees. All life stages of a butterfly may serve as food for a wide range of other organisms including birds, lizards, spiders, small mammals and other insects. Butterflies also are very sensitive to changes in the environment and thus are good indicators in assessing how healthy or unhealthy conditions are. As a result, they are widely used by ecologists to help evaluate the impacts of habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Q: Where do butterflies go at night? A: At night or during bad weather, butterflies will usually seek shelter by hanging from the undersides of leaves, or crawl into crevices in the bark of trees, between rocks, or other objects, and sleep. Q: What do butterflies eat? A: Most adult butterflies sip nectar from flowers through their proboscis that acts like a straw. Some species vary their nectar diet to include rotting fruit, pollen, animal excrement and carrion. Q: What do caterpillars eat? A: Almost all butterfly larvaes eat plant material.

Most eat leaves, but some eat seeds, stems, roots, fruits, seed pods or flowers. Larvae of the Harvester butterfly are carnivorous and feed on aphids. Some lycaenid caterpillars also eat ant larvae. Q: Do butterflies hibernate or aestivate? A: Yes. Some butterflies hibernate as adults, eggs, immature larvae or pupae in order to survive climate extremes, such as cold in the winter, or heat and drought in the summer. Butterflies can undergo a rest period called diapause, during which the vital functions are kept at the very minimum. No growth or development occurs in the egg, larva or pupae, and the adult butterfly just hangs motionless in a suitable place, waiting for better conditions to arrive. Sorbitol and glycerol exist in the blood of some butterflies and function as natural anti-freeze agents. Q: How many butterflies are in the Butterfly Rainforest? A: At any time, approximately 60 to 80 species can be seen in the Butterfly Rainforest. The continuous population will be several hundred to over one thousand. Approximately 900 adult butterflies are added weekly. Q: Where do we get our butterflies?

A: The majority of the butterflies in the Rainforest are bred in butterfly farms throughout the world, primarily Malaysia, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Suriname, El Salvador, Ecuador, Australia, New Guinea, Madagascar, Africa and Florida. They are shipped to us in the pupal stage and emerge as adult butterflies in our rearing lab. We periodically rear some species of butterflies, primarily for larval display, but not with the intent to increase the adult population in the Rainforest. The rearing lab allows our guests a closer look at the life cycle of the butterfly, from egg to larva to pupa to adult. Visitors will have the chance to see voracious caterpillars feeding on their host plants along with a variety of pupae before they emerge as adults, some doing so daily! Q: Will the butterflies reproduce in the Rainforest? A: No. Mating does occur, but the females will not lay eggs because there are no larval host plants in the Rainforest. This means that only adult butterflies are on display in the exhibit. The Rainforst is considered to be a USDA quarantine facility with access by the general public and therefore host plants are not permitted. This eliminates any possible unauthorized butterfly breeding.

Q: Is the Butterfly Rainforest modeled after habitats found in Florida? A: No. The goal is to reproduce an environment that is NOT characteristic of the United States. This sample rainforest not only includes plants from tropical areas, but also exhibits butterflies from around the world. Q: What types of plants do we have in the Butterfly Rainforest? A: There are a variety of general landscape and nectar producing plants that provide the butterflies with a suitable habitat/environment and available adult food. The "anchor" species in the Rainforest are labeled and many of the other showy species are listed on the plant/butterfly identification cards available at the entrance to the Rainforest. Lifecycle of a Butterfly | Painted Lady Butterfly Lifecycle of a Butterfly There are four stages in the lifecycle of the Painted Lady Butterfly. The Egg (3-5 days) Adult female butterflies lay their eggs on plants that Painted Lady caterpillars like to eat, like thistle or hollyhock. The eggs are the size of a pin head, each one containing a caterpillar beginning to grow. The Larva or Caterpillar Comes Out! (5-10 days) The hungry caterpillar uses its strong jaws to munch through leaves, eating constantly and growing quickly.

As it eats, the caterpillar’s skin gets tighter. Soon it sheds this tight skin, emerging with new skin underneath. Each caterpillar changes skin four times before it’s fully grown. When this hairy, black and yellow caterpillar stops growing, it’s almost 2 inches long! The Chrysalis—Metamorphosis Begins (7-10 days) The caterpillar finds a safe place to rest. With a silk thread that comes out of a hole just below its mouth (spinneret), the caterpillar spins a silk pad to attach to. The caterpillar hangs from this pad. Soon, the caterpillars’ skin splits open, from head to abdomen, revealing a dull, brownish case underneath—the chrysalis or pupa. What is happening in the chrysalis? Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar is becoming completely liquid and reforming itself into a butterfly. The butterfly pushes from inside until the case splits open, and it slowly struggles out. The Butterfly Emerges! (2 weeks) When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, its wings are soft and crumpled. The tired butterfly rests, and then slowly unfolds its wings to dry.

After a few hours, the butterfly will be ready to fly. The Painted Lady Butterfly has a 2-week life span. During that time, its main goal is to reproduce and lay eggs so the cycle can begin again! Handouts

Question: What name is given to the stage of a butterfly's life when it lives in a chrysalis?
Answer: Pupal