Caterpillars and Butterflies
The life cycle of a butterfly is truly unique. Butterflies have four life stages, the egg, the larva (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly. Each of the four stages is unique to individual species of butterflies, which is part of what makes watching and raising butterflies so much fun.
Stage 1 (The Butterfly Egg ): The egg stage usually lasts 3-7 days, but this can vary quite a bit among different species of butterflies. Some species overwinter as eggs and undergo diapause to survive the many winter months.
Stage 2 (The Butterfly Caterpillar): Caterpillar stage of the life cycle is where the 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," Before it begins to pupate, it will increase its body mass thousands of times. 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.
Stage 3 (The Butterfly Chrysalis/Pupa) In this stage, The caterpillar spins a string of silk around its body and attaches the strings to the branch to hold the chrysalis in place. Not all butterfly species attach in the same way. The majority of butterflies will hang upside down from their silk pad. This shell can take many forms and shapes depending on the butterfly species. Once the caterpillar is firmly in place, the exoskeleton will split off, exposing the pupa. 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.