The butterfly and moth develop through a process called
metamorphosis
. This is a Greek word that means transformation or change in shape. Insects have two common types of metamorphosis.
What are the stages of a butterfly life cycle?
The monarch butterfly, like other insects, has several life forms and stages prior to reaching adulthood. The monarch has four distinct life stages:
egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult
.
What are the 5 stages of a butterfly?
- THE EGG,
- LARVA (CATERPILLAR),
- THE PUPA (CHRYSALIS),
- THE ADULT BUTTERFLY.
What happens to butterflies during metamorphosis?
Butterflies go through a life cycle that involves several stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The metamorphosis from a caterpillar into a butterfly occurs during the pupa stage. During this stage,
the caterpillar’s old body dies and a new body forms inside a protective shell
known as a chrysalis.
Do butterflies go through evolution?
Butterfly evolution is the
origin and diversification of butterflies through geologic time and over a large portion of the Earth’s surface
. The earliest known butterfly fossils are from the mid Eocene epoch, between 40-50 million years ago.
What is the butterfly kiss?
:
the act or an instance of fluttering one’s eyelashes against another person’s skin
“… I’ve invented a new way of kissing. You do it with your eye-lashes.” “I’ve known that for years.
What is a butterfly at first?
The first stage of a butterfly’s life is
a very small oval, round, or cylindrical egg
, depending on the species of butterfly. When the egg hatches, a “larva” or “caterpillar” emerges. Caterpillars must grow quickly, so they eat continually.
How long does it take to become a butterfly?
This process is known as metamorphosis. Most butterflies emerge from their chrysalises in
about 10 to 14 days
, but butterfly chrysalises vary from species to species.
Why are butterflies so important?
A butterfly’s role—Areas filled with butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates benefit
with pollination and natural pest control
. Butterflies and moths are also an important part of the food chain, providing food for birds, bats, and other animals.
Which butterfly stage eats the fastest?
Caterpillar
. This is the main feeding stage of the butterfly. Caterpillars eat almost constantly and grow very quickly, at an astonishing rate.
What do butterflies symbolize?
In its metamorphosis from the common, colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, the butterfly has become a metaphor for transformation and hope; across cultures, it has become a
symbol for rebirth and resurrection
, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over the physical prison, the …
Do butterflies remember being caterpillars?
Scientists have known for a long time that
caterpillars can learn and remember things when they are caterpillars
, and adult butterflies can do the same when they are butterflies. … The scientists had shown that the memories of avoiding the bad smell experienced as a caterpillar had been carried over into the moth stage.
What is it called when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly?
Butterflies are perhaps most famous for the process by which a plump little caterpillar transforms into a winged work of art. But they’re not unique in going through this drastic life change, called
complete metamorphosis, or holometabolism
. … (Watch a time-lapse video of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.)
What are 3 interesting facts about butterflies?
- Butterfly wings are transparent. …
- There are almost 20,000 butterfly species. …
- Butterflies use their feet to taste. …
- Butterflies only live for a few weeks. …
- The most common butterfly in the US is the Cabbage White. …
- Some butterfly species migrate from the cold.
What do butterflies eat with?
Because of their straw-like mouthparts, butterflies are mainly restricted to a liquid diet. Butterflies use their proboscis to drink
sweet nectar from flowers
. Nectar sometimes resides deep within a flower and the proboscis allows the butterfly to reach this sugary treat.
Why is a moth not a butterfly?
‘What is the difference between butterflies and moths? … Butterflies usually have ‘club-shaped’ antennae while most moths have feathery or tapering ones. No UK
butterflies have feathery antennae
, but some butterflies and moths have rather similar shaped antennae (e.g. Dingy Skipper and Six-spot Burnet).
