Buterflies are insects that belong to the order of lepidoptera, a scientific name which comes from two Greek words. Lepid, meaning flakelike or scalelike and ptera, meaning feather or wing. During a lifetime, butterflies undergo metamorphosis, which means "change of form." They go through four very different stages: egg, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis, and adult. The metamorphosis cycle can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years.
Throughout the caterpillar's development, it sheds or molts its skin four to five times. The caterpillar stops eating and sheds its old skin only to replace it with skin that accomodates for growth. Once the caterpillar has grown its limits, it stops eating and turns a sickly color, this development is complete. Caterpillars then search for a leaf or twig to attach themselves and hang. It is at this location, that they use their unique silk-making organ, the spinneret to spin a protective silk case called a chrysalis.
The Life Cycle of Butterflies Web Site
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The first stage of metamorphosis is the egg. The adult butterfly searches and carefully selects a particular kind of plant that the young will later feed on and fastens the eggs to the plant. The eggs differ in their variety and are uniquely shaped, possessing vibrant colors in all hues of the rainbow. Within approximately 72 hours if the weather is warm, the egg will be ready to hatch.
During the second stage of metamorphosis, the larva or caterpillar emerges. The very first thing that the caterpillar does is eat its empty egg. For the next serval days, the caterpillar continues to eat the leaf throughout the day, stopping at intervals in order to molt. A caterpillar does not have wings. Its mouth parts are designed for chewing. It has large glands and is equiped with glands that produce silk. A caterpillar has six "true" legs which are located at the front end of the caterpillar's body. In addition, most caterpillars have five pairs of "false" legs which are soft and temporary, located at the back of the body. These "false" legs function as suction cups and allow the caterpillar to fasten onto plants. They also hold up the long "caboose." However, some caterpillars have only two pairs of "false" legs and they arch their bodies to move along. These types are called inch worms.
The third stage of metamorphosis is the pupa or chrysalis. During this stage, final development takes place within the the pupal case. The chrysalis hangs motionless and appears lifeless for the next nine to fifteen days. However, many changes are taking place within the pupal case and is reflected on the outside by the once soft shell. It begins to harden and turns a beautiful color green with speckles of gold. Interestingly, the term "chrysalis" comes from the Greek word for "golden." Over the next few days, the natural wonder of the caterpillar transforming into the butterfly occurs. In five days to a week, the once opaque green color of the chrysalis shell begins to appear transparent.
The fourth and final stage of metamorphosis occurs approximately on the fifteenth day, the skin spilts and a butterfly pushes out a pair of legs and grasps the outside of the chrysalis. The butterfly only needs about four minutes to work its head and body out of the chrysalis. Its wings are so limp and crumpled that the butterfly is unable to fly. Hanging suspended from the chrysalis, the butterfly slowly moves its wings up and down, pumping fluid from the body into the wings. Gradually, the wings grow larger and in approximately ten to twenty minutes, they are full size.
The Anatomy of a Butterfly
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