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The life cycle of a butterfly is truly amazing. Butterflies have four life stages, the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. Each of the four stages are very unique to individual species of butterflies which is part of what makes watching and raising butterflies so much fun.

The Butterfly Egg

The egg stage usually lasts 3-7 days but this can vary quite a bit among different species of butterflies. In fact some species overwinter as eggs and undergo diapause to survive the many months of winter. Please visit our article about finding butterfly eggs for more information about butterfly eggs.

The Butterfly Caterpillar

A very tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg. The first meal for most caterpillars is the eggshell. The caterpillar is designed to be an "eating-machine" and before it begins to pupate it will increase its body mass thousands of times.

The picture on the left is a small young Black Swallowtail larva while the caterpillar in the picture on the right is an older Black Swallowtail larva. Caterpillars will molt several times as they outgrow their exoskeleton. Each time they do their appearance will change, sometimes rather dramatically.

Black Swallowtails, for example, have five instars or five different stages between the hatching from the egg and the time of pupation. The number of instars varies between butterfly species. The caterpillar on the right is in its fifth instar and will soon pupate, or molt, one last time to become a chrysalis. The total time that the butterfly stays in the caterpillar stage is about 2-5 weeks and varies based on the species and the growing conditions.

It is believed that the caterpillar stage is the most dangerous in the life cycle of a butterfly as the mortality rates are very high. Caterpillars are subject to weather conditions, disease, parasites and predators. Many adult butterfly species lay hundreds of eggs with only a few surviving to become adults.

The Butterfly Chrysalis

The picture on the left shows a Black Swallowtail caterpillar getting ready to pupate or form a chrysalis. It has made a silk mat and attached itself at the base. The caterpillar also spun a string of silk around its body and attached the strings to the branch to hold the chrysalis in place in the same way that a telephone linesman uses a leather belt to attach to the pole. Not all butterfly species attach in the same way. Actually, the majority of butterflies will hang upside down from their silk pad.

The pupal shell is developing underneath the caterpillar's skin. This shell can take many forms and shapes depending on the species of butterfly. Once the caterpillar is firmly in place the exoskelton will split off exposing the pupa. In the case of the Black Swallowtail the final chrysalis will be either green or brown depending on whether the caterpillar is pupating on a green stem or a brown stick. Most butterfly species will stay in the chrysalis for about 1-2 weeks before the butterfly emerges. Several species overwinter as a pupa and will thus enter diapause in the Fall and stay as a pupa until Spring when the butterfly emerges.

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly Begins/Ends With the Adult Butterfly

When a butterfly emerges from a chrysalis its wings are crumpled. The butterfly will hang with its wings down and will begin pumping the wings full of fluids from their body to straighten them out. Then the butterfly must wait several hours for the wings to harden and dry before it can fly away.

The lifespan of most adult butterflies is about 2-3 weeks but this can vary greatly among species. Species that over winter as adults (such as Monarchs) will live for many months (this is only true for the last generation Monarchs each summer that is migrating).

In their lifespan the female adults butterflies must find a mate and the right plants on which to lay their eggs to begin the butterfly life cycle all over again. Following and exploring the life cycle of a butterfly is a great source of entertainment and education! Please spend some time on our website to learn more about attracting and raising these beautiful creatures.

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The life cycle of a butterfly is truly amazing. Butterflies have four life stages, the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. Each of the four stages are very unique to individual species of butterflies which is part of what makes watching and raising butterflies so much fun.

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A. Although both of these fluttering insects come under the classification Lepidoptera.

Butterflies and moths have a lot in common. Both of these insects are part of the same insects family i.e. Lepidoptera. It means scale winged.

But they possess many differences between them, some of them are following -

Moths rest with their wings open, whereas butterflies tend to rest with their wings closed.

Butterflies are active for gathering food during the daytime (diurnal), whereas Moths are seen more active at night (nocturnal)

Butterflies have long, thin antennae, while Moth antennae tend to be leaf or feather shaped.

Most Moths make a silky cocoon, while butterflies usually make a shiny chrysalis

In general, moths tend to be duller and less vibrant in colour, but butterflies are very colorful

Q. What is the largest butterfly on earth?

A. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing is the largest living butterfly on the earth. It's wingspan is about 25 cm (9.8 inches).

Q. What is the smallest butterfly on earth?

A. The smallest butterfly in the world is the Western Pygmy Blue. it is found in the southern United States. Its wingspan is 0.5 to 0.75 inch.

Q. What is the largest moth on the earth?

A. Atlas Moth is the largest moth in the world. It has a wingspan of 10 inches and is native to Southeast Asia.

Q. What is the rarest butterfly on earth?

A. The Palos Verdes Blue is the rarest butterfly in the world.

Q. What is the most common butterfly in the world?

A. Cabbage White is the most common butterfly in the world.

Reference site for the life cycle of a butterfly - Here

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Life Cycle of a Butterfly-4 Stages of a Butterfly Life Cycle

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A. Although both of these fluttering insects come under the classification Lepidoptera. Butterflies and moths have a lot in common. Both of these insects are part of the same insects family i.e. Lepidoptera. It means scale winged.

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Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly: Identification, Facts, & Pictures

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Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing eggs, caterpillar, pupa, & adult description, their wingspan, flight pattern, host plants, diet, distribution, images

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Suburban Exterminating - Pest Control & Extermination

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Butterfly Wings Are Transparent

Before you feel the need to schedule an eye exam, let us explain. The wings of a butterfly are covered in a multitude of miniature scales -thousands of them. And those colors you see when a butterfly flits across your yard are the reflection of various colors through the scales. The wings themselves are made up of a protein called chitin, which is the same protein that forms an insect's exoskeleton. And much like an exoskeleton, chitin is transparent. You've learned something new already!

The Most Common Butterfly in the US is the Cabbage White

Named for its mostly white marking, when hints of yellow and green like the vegetable, the Cabbage White may not be the most colorful butterfly in your garden or yard, but it is the most common. The male Cabbage White has one prominent black spot on each wing, while the female has two.

Although in many cases cold weather will end the already short life of a butterfly by rendering them immobile, others take the dropping temperature as a signal to move. Butterflies are cold-blooded and require - in ideal settings - a body temperature of approximately 85 degrees to activate their flight muscles. If the weather begins changing some species simply migrate in search of sunshine. Some, like the North American Monarch, travel an average of 2,500 miles!

One of the Largest Butterflies is the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

With a wingspread of between four and seven inches, this species has a name that fits its dimensions. If you have ever seen one on a hike or around your yard, you may have been spellbound by the sight of it. Their swallowtail description is borrowed from birds of the same name, thanks to the long tails on this butterfly's hindwings.

Butterfly Wings Help Them Against Predators

As we've discussed, the lifespan of the average butterfly is short, and even at their peak, these insects are some of the most fragile. Staying alive for as long as possible allows the butterfly additional opportunities to mate, and continuing the existence of its species is of utmost importance. Therefore, butterflies frequently use their wings as a defense mechanism. Either by folding to blend in with their surroundings, or wearing a full spectrum of colors and patterns to frighten predators, a butterfly's wings are often their best protection.

10 Fun Facts about Butterflies Serving Long Island and surrounding areas

Richmond | Kings County | Nassau County | Suffolk County

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10 Fun Facts About Butterflies | All About Butterflies on Long Island

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How much do you know about butterflies? This list includes 10 fascinating facts about butterflies that will make you think of these beautiful insects in a whole new way!