Butterflies  Ever wonder where a butterfly comes from? It comes from a chrysalis (KRIS-uh-liss) which is also called a pupa. A chrysalis looks like a tiny leathery pouch. You can find one underneath some leaves in the summer.  Some animals don't change much as they grow up. Think about it: someone your age looks a lot like a grown-up. Grown-ups have more wrinkles and gray hair. But they still have two arms, two legs and one head—just like you.

Eggs Butterfly eggs have a hard outer shell. This protects the larva inside. The shell is called the chorion. Inside, the egg is lined with wax. This keeps the egg from drying out. Not all eggs are the same shape or size Butterfly eggs have a hard outer shell. This protects the larva inside. The shell is called the chorion. Inside, the egg is lined with wax. This keeps the egg from drying out. Not all eggs are the same shape or size

Larva Larva have three body parts-head, thorax and abdomen. Even though the caterpillar has 6 eyes, it can't see very well. The antennae help guide the larva. They breathe through holes in the side of their bodies. Larva have a set of real legs and five false legs called prolegs. Larva have three body parts-head, thorax and abdomen. Even though the caterpillar has 6 eyes, it can't see very well. The antennae help guide the larva. They breathe through holes in the side of their bodies. Larva have a set of real legs and five false legs called prolegs.

Pupa As the larva pupates, it splits the exoskeleton and the larval skin comes off. When the skin is part of the way off, the cremaster appears. It is a spiny part at the end of the abdomen that the baby butterfly hangs from until it is strong enough to fly. As the larva pupates, it splits the exoskeleton and the larval skin comes off. When the skin is part of the way off, the cremaster appears. It is a spiny part at the end of the abdomen that the baby butterfly hangs from until it is strong enough to fly.

Adult Butterfly The adult butterfly has three body parts-head, thorax and abdomen. It also has 6 legs but it curls up the front ones so sometimes people think there are only four. Butterflies have a proboscis which is a long straw-like tonque which it can use to suck up nectar and water. There are two sets of wings-hindwings and forewings. The adult butterfly has three body parts-head, thorax and abdomen. It also has 6 legs but it curls up the front ones so sometimes people think there are only four. Butterflies have a proboscis which is a long straw-like tonque which it can use to suck up nectar and water. There are two sets of wings-hindwings and forewings.

Fun Facts About Butterflies Butterflies are flying insects Butterflies are flying insects The Monarch is sometimes called the “Milkweed Butterfly”. The Monarch is sometimes called the “Milkweed Butterfly”. Butterflies fly between 5 and 30 miles an hour Butterflies fly between 5 and 30 miles an hour People who study butterflies are called Lepidopterists People who study butterflies are called Lepidopterists A butterfly can lay up to 500 eggs A butterfly can lay up to 500 eggs Butterflies flap their wings quite slowly, usually from 5-20 beats per second Butterflies flap their wings quite slowly, usually from 5-20 beats per second 700 species are found in North America 700 species are found in North America Butterflies are important pollinators. They come fourth after, flies and bees. Butterflies are important pollinators. They come fourth after, flies and bees.