1. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
By Kristy Lopez

2. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Stage 1: Egg
The butterfly begins its life as a tiny egg on a leaf.
It grows inside the egg for about 4 days.

3. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Stage 2: Caterpillar
A small caterpillar hatches from the egg.
It eats flowers and leaves until it grows bigger.
As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its rapidly growing body.
This stage lasts approximately 2 weeks.

4. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Stage 3: Chrysalis
The caterpillar builds a home around itself called a chrysalis.
In this stage, the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect's structures are formed.
This stage lasts approximately 10 days.

5. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Stage 4: Adult
After spending 10 days inside the chrysalis, a beautiful adult butterfly emerges.
This stage can last from 2 to 6 weeks.

6. The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Let’s review the stages!

7. Sources:
The Children’s Butterfly Site
Monarch Butterfly USA