Butterflies have four different stages throughout their life. An adult butterfly lays her eggs. When these eggs hatch caterpillars emerge. These caterpillars feast on leaves until they are big enough, then they transform into a pupa. They stay in this pupa for awhile and when they emerge they are butterflies. Once the butterfly emerges from the pupa it can not fly immediately. It has to wait for its wings to unfold, then it is ready to fly, and they cycle repeats. There are many different butterflies throughout the world varying in sizes and colors.