The Life Cycle of the Butterfly
 

                        1. The butterfly (belonging to the Lepidoptera class) will lay eggs that come in many different shapes. These eggs are white or light green and become darker during development.
 
 
 

    2.    The egg will then hatch resulting in the caterpillar (also known as the larvae). At this time,  caterpillars eat their egg shells and surrounding plants. The caterpillar grows at a rapid rate.
 
 
 
 

3. The caterpillar undergoes a metamorphasis. This means that the creature that started out as an egg develops as something completely different when entering adulthood. This change occurs when the caterpillar is ready to become a pupa (also known as a chrysalis). At this point, the caterpillar changes color and its body contracts. Its skin splits revealing the pupa. The caterpillars tissues become fluid and begin forming organs of the adult butterfly.
 
 
 

4. Once the changes from stage 3 are complete, the butterfly struggles out of its shell. It must rest until its wings have hardened, dried and expanded. This is adulthood. At this point butterflies only live a few days or weeks.
 
 

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