The Life Cycle of a Butterfly A butterfly’s life unfolds through four distinct stages: egg , larva (caterpillar), pupa ( chrysalis ), and adult . Each stage serves a unique purpose in growth and survival. The journey begins when a female lays tiny eggs on a host plant chosen for its suitability as food for emerging larvae. When eggs hatch, voracious caterpillars emerge and focus almost entirely on eating; their rapid growth requires frequent molting as their exoskeletons become too tight. This feeding stage accumulates energy reserves that will fuel metamorphosis . After reaching a species-specific size, the caterpillar finds a sheltered spot and transforms into a pupa. Inside the chrysalis, tissues reorganize dramatically: larval structures break down while adult features—wings, antennae , and reproductive organs—form. This remarkable reconfiguration, called metamorphosis, can take days to weeks depending on species and environmental conditions. When development completes...