LIFE CYCLE OF THE BUTTERFLY

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly can be seen in the illustration below.

1. The adult female butterfly that has mated lays fertile eggs on the food plant.
2. The egg hatches into a larva (caterpillar).
3. The caterpillar eats and grows a tremendous amount.
4. The caterpillar attaches itself to a twig and forms a hard outer shell called a chrysalis.
5. Inside the pupa (chrysalis), the caterpillar changes into a butterfly.
6. A fully grown butterfly eventually emerges from the pupa and the cycle begins again.