Life Cycle of Butterfly

Importance of Butterflies in the Ecosystem

Typical life cycle of butterfly has four distinct stages: egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and adult. Each stage has distinct behavioural and physiological characteristics that take place in an orderly manner to form an adult butterfly. This process of transformation from eggs to adult is called “metamorphosis“. The four stages involved in life cycle of butterfly are destribed as follows:

Egg Stage of Butterfly – Stage 1

In this stage, the female butterfly lay eggs on a plant. These eggs are laid singly or in clusters. The eggs differ in size, shape, and color which varies from species to species. The eggs are small, spherical or oval in shape. The length also varies in different species. This stage lasts from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the butterfly species and environmental conditions. Inside the egg, the embryo develops, eventually hatching into a tiny caterpillar.

Larva or Caterpillar Stage of Butterfly – Stage 2

Once the butterfly eggs hatch, they form larva which is also known as the caterpillar. In this stage the caterpillar feeds on plant leaves and grow in size. The caterpillar has a soft, cylindrical body with multiple legs. In order to accommodate this rapid growth, the caterpillars molt several times. In this process they lose exoskeleton. This stage is characterized by intense feeding and growth, preparing the caterpillar for the next stage of its transformation.

Pupa or Chrysalis Stage of Butterfly – Stage 3

This stage is followed by the larval stage in which the caterpillar transforms into a pupa, which is also known as the chrysalis. At this stage the metamorphosis begins leading to distinct changes in the larval anatomy. During the pupa or chrysalis stage, the caterpillar undergoes these transformation inside a protective shell.

Within the chrysalis, the caterpillar’s body breaks down into a soupy substance before reorganizing into the structure of an adult butterfly. This stage is crucial for the development of wings, antennae, and other adult features, marking a significant milestone in the butterfly’s life cycle.

Adult Stage of Butterfly – Stage 4

After completion of the pupa stage, the butterfly eclosion happens and the butterfly forms. The adult butterfly must expand and dry its wings so as to take its first flight. Once the butterfly develops its wings, it flies in search for nectar from flowers, mates, and places to lay eggs, which restarts a new cycle.

In brief the stages are:

Stage	Butterfly Life Cycle Days	Description
Egg	Varies	Female butterflies lay eggs on host plants
Larva	1-5 weeks	Caterpillars feed on plants and grow through many molting stages, and shedding of exoskeletons
Pupa	1-3 weeks	In the cocoon, the larva goes through transformation to form parts of the butterfly
Adult	Varies	The fully fledged adult butterfly emerges from its chrysalis