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MR. HGUYEN
MARCH 15, 2010
Life Cycle of a Butterfly - Metamorphosis -
Metamorphosis – Life Cycle of Butterflies
Eggs are first stage They are tiny, sometimes
microscopicLaid on the underside of
host plant leavesHatching predetermined by
time eggs are laid
Caterpillars – the feeding stage
Minute, some virtually invisible to naked eye
Coloration of caterpillar is quite diverse
Job of caterpillar is to eat, eat, eat
Caterpillars must shed skin several times, each shedding called an instar
Can multiply in size more than a thousand fold
When final instar occurs, pupa emerges
Pupa - the transition stage
Transformation in pupa stage is miraculous
What emerges in no way resembles the caterpillar
Complete disassembly of the cells and reassembling of cells into new form
The butterfly emerges from this stage
Adult Butterfly – the reproductive stage
Upon emerging, the swollen body pumps fluid into tiny shrived up wings
Within a few hours, wings are full sized, dried, and become more rigid
Butterflies are ready to take flight
The job of the adult is to mate and lay eggs
Most live only one or two weeks
Attributions
All photographs courtesy of The Academy of Natural Sciences http://www.ansp.org/museum/butterflies/life_cycle.php