Objective: Students will be able to define key words and describe the life cycle of a butterfly.
video: The Very Hungary Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Basic Facts
- The butterfly life cycle has four stages:
- egg, larva/caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly
- Egg
- The egg is a small and round object.
- Butterflies lay thier eggs on leaves and stems.
- An interesting fact about butterfly eggs is that if looked at closely, the caterpillar inside the egg can be seen.
- Caterpillar
- The caterpillar is the worm-like stage.
- During this stage, the caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the plant they hatched on and grows.
- Because thier skin or exoskeleton does not expand when they grow, caterpillars go through molting or sheding of their skin four or more times.
- Chrysalis
- This is the transformation stage.
- Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar is rapidly changing and forming their butterfly structure.
- Their transformation is called metamorphosis.
- The chrysalis is usually brown or green so that it can blend into the surroundings.
- Butterfly
- The butterfly is the reproductive and mobile stage.
- When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, its wings are soft and limp.
- The first couple of hours the butterfly must pump blood into its wings.
- During this stage, the butterfly courts, mates, and lays eggs.
References