The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Contributor: Elephango Editors. Lesson ID: 12106

Discover how a butterfly grows from egg to wings through fun facts, colorful activities, and creative projects!

1To2Hour
categories

Life Science

subject
Science
learning style
Visual
personality style
Lion
Grade Level
Primary (K-2)
Lesson Type
Quick Query

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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From Egg to Wings—The Butterfly's Amazing Journey

  • Have you ever seen a butterfly flutter by and wondered where it came from?
  • Did it always have wings and beautiful colors?
  • Would you believe butterflies don’t start out looking like butterflies at all?

Believe it or not, they begin as tiny, jelly-like eggs—and they go through a big transformation to become the flying wonders we see outside.

Explore how it happens, step by step!

Stage 1: Egg

The life of a butterfly begins when a female butterfly lays her eggs on the underside of a leaf.

The eggs are super small—about the size of the tip of a pin—and they’re held in place with a sticky glue-like liquid.

black-veined white butterfly eggs

Inside each egg, something magical starts to happen: a baby caterpillar begins to grow!

In just a few days (about 3–6), the egg hatches!

Stage 2: Larva (Caterpillar)

When the egg hatches, out crawls a caterpillar, also called a larva.

Its first job? Eat! It begins by munching on the leaf it was born on.

Caterpillars are very hungry and grow super fast. To do that, they shed their skin—just like you’d change your clothes when they get too small.

black swallowtail caterpillar

Some caterpillars shed their skin four or five times before they’re fully grown, which is only about two inches long!

Stage 3: Pupa (Chrysalis)

Once the caterpillar is fully grown, it finds a safe spot on a branch or leaf and attaches itself with silk.

Then—poof!—it sheds its skin one last time and reveals something new underneath: a hard shell called a chrysalis. This stage is also called the pupa.

Inside the chrysalis, something amazing happens. The caterpillar’s body completely changes into a butterfly.

Monarch emerging

This process is called metamorphosis. It’s one of nature’s coolest tricks!

Stage 4: Adult Butterfly

After about 7–10 days, the chrysalis opens, and out comes a brand-new butterfly!

But the butterfly can’t fly right away. First, it hangs upside down and lets its wings dry and harden. After a couple of hours, its wings are ready—and the butterfly can fly!

Now it drinks nectar, helps pollinate flowers, and looks for a place to lay eggs… so the cycle can begin all over again.

A close-up shot of a butterfly sitting on a colorful flower

Remember: The Four Stages of a Butterfly’s Life

A butterfly goes through four main stages in its life.

  1. Egg – A tiny egg is laid on a leaf.

  2. Larva – The egg hatches into a hungry caterpillar.

  3. Pupa (Chrysalis) – The caterpillar forms a hard shell and changes inside.

  4. Adult Butterfly – A butterfly emerges with wings, ready to fly!

butterfly life cycle

Extra Cool Facts!

Butterflies are cold-blooded and need warmth to fly.

They can taste with their feet!

They eat with a long straw-like tongue called a proboscis.

Some butterflies, like the monarch, can travel over 2,000 miles!

The biggest butterfly in the world, the birdwing, has wings almost a foot long!

The first butterflies fluttering over a clearing with spring flowers.

  • Are you ready to flap into action and show what you know?

Move to the Got It? section to practice the butterfly life cycle!

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