2. Metamorphosis By Janet Dlugosz PTTL 2003

3. From Egg to Butterfly

4. THE EGGS The Painted Lady lays it eggs on plants. The eggs are green and shaped like an oval. They are about 1 mm large.

5. THE LARVA The larva or caterpillar is a very big eater. It stays near the plant where it was hatched, eating mostly leaves. This stage takes about 4 weeks.

6. THE PUPA OR CHRYSALIS The caterpillar crawls to a safe place and hangs upside down from a branch or leaf. The larvae spins thread and attaches its tail to its resting place. In about 24 hours the skin splits down the back. Under this is the chrysalis,which hardens and becomes a golden color. The Painted Lady stays in this state from 7 to 10 days.

7. THE BUTTERFLY When the chrysalis splits and releases the butterfly, air is pumped into the wings, filling them with blood and unfolding them. They need enough space for the butterfly wings to do this. The wings dry and harden within the first day. Veins on the wings give them strength.

8. Anatomy

9. The Life Cycle of a Painted Lady Butterfly

10. Fun Facts  Male painted ladies have smaller abdomens than females.  Butterflies are diurnal (active during the day).  Favorite butterfly flowers = aster, cosmos, thistle, and buttonbush.  Favorite caterpillar plants = thistle, mallow, hollyhock, malva, and sunflower.  Painted Lady Butterflies see more patterns, a wider range of color, and more shades of green than people do.  The tiny scales attached to butterfly wings give the wings their color.  Butterflies have taste sensors on their legs.

11. As the Indian Legend Goes… If anyone desires a wish to come true they must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly cannot reveal the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who hears and sees all. In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom, the Great Spirit always grants the wish. So, according to legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom, the wish will be taken to the heavens and be granted.

12. The End… And the Beginning