Exploration of butterfly
2 Minutes
Life cycle of a butterfly for kids: learn how an egg hatches into a caterpillar, forms a chrysalis, and becomes a butterfly. An English science lesson.
- How a butterfly egg hatches into a caterpillar on a leaf
- How the caterpillar grows and forms a pupa inside a chrysalis
- How the butterfly emerges and fluid gives strength to its wings
What this lesson teaches
A butterfly is a colorful insect that develops through several distinct stages from an egg into an adult. The complete process for an egg to become a butterfly takes almost 28 days.
From egg to caterpillar
The life of a butterfly starts from a tiny egg laid on a leaf by a mother butterfly before she leaves. When the egg hatches, a small worm-like creature called a larva, or caterpillar, crawls out. The empty eggshell serves as the caterpillar's very first food. After eating the eggshell, the caterpillar eats many leaves to grow, shedding its skin multiple times as it gets larger.
The chrysalis stage
Once the caterpillar reaches its maximum size, it removes its outer layer like a dress. It then wraps itself in a covering that looks like a blanket. This stage of development is known as the chrysalis, and the caterpillar inside is called a pupa. The pupa stays completely motionless inside the chrysalis, but internal changes continue to happen over time.
Emerging as an adult butterfly
Within about 15 days, the pupa breaks open the blanket covering and emerges as a butterfly. When it first comes out, its wings are small and lack strength. In a short while, fluid from the blanket flows into the wings, giving them the strength needed for flight. Once this fluid fills the wings, the butterfly can fly easily.
Stages of the life cycle
- A mother butterfly deposits a single tiny egg onto a leaf.
- The larva hatches, consumes its eggshell, eats leaves, and sheds its skin many times.
- The caterpillar sheds its outer layer and wraps itself in a blanket called a chrysalis as a pupa.
- Inside the chrysalis, the pupa stays still for about 15 days while body changes take place.
- The butterfly breaks free, fluid strengthens its small wings, and it flies away after almost 28 days.