1. Butterflies are Everywhere! The Life Cycle of a Butterfly Kathleen A. Mitchell 5.10C

2. Butterflies are Everywhere! Butterflies are everywhere! Did you ever want to discover more about the beautiful butterflies that you see flying from flower to flower? You are going to explore the life cycle of a butterfly and much, much more. Let’s go!

3. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly Butterflies undergo a process called complete metamorphosis: The larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg that the female usually lays on the underside of leaves. The larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg that the female usually lays on the underside of leaves. After growing, it enters the seemingly inactive pupal phase during which it forms a protective chrysalis and metamorphoses into a winged insect - the adult butterfly. After growing, it enters the seemingly inactive pupal phase during which it forms a protective chrysalis and metamorphoses into a winged insect - the adult butterfly. After mating, the female lays eggs and the cycle begins again. After mating, the female lays eggs and the cycle begins again.

4. Egg The butterfly lays an egg on the leaf of a milkweed plant.

5. Caterpillar (or Larva) A caterpillar is born. He eats the leaves of the plant for food.

6. Chrysalis (or Pupa) The caterpillar creates a chrysalis around its body. The caterpillar creates a chrysalis around its body.

7. Adult After some time, a butterfly comes out of the chrysalis. At last, a beautiful butterfly appears! After some time, a butterfly comes out of the chrysalis. At last, a beautiful butterfly appears!

8. Vocabulary Adult - the winged adult which will mate and reproduce. Adults do not eat; they only sip liquids through a straw- like proboscis. Larva - (also called the caterpillar) this stage hatches from the egg. The larva spends its time eating, growing and molting (shedding its outgrown exoskeleton). Pupa - the stage in a butterfly's life when it is encased in a chrysalis and undergoes metamorphosis into the adult, winged form. Egg - the tiny orb laid by a female butterfly. Eggs are usually laid on the underside of leaves - they hatch into larvae.

9. Use the definitions to label the butterfly life cycle diagram. Egg Larva PupaAdult

10. Now for some fun…. Q: Why couldn't the butterfly go to the dance? Q: Why couldn't the butterfly go to the dance? You might want to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Erik Carle. A: Because it was a moth ball! -- Submitted by: Ashwin, Age 6 A: Because it was a moth ball! -- Submitted by: Ashwin, Age 6

11. Butterflies are Everywhere! The next time you see a beautiful butterfly cruising through your garden, remember the many changes it went through while it was “growing up!”