The Butterfly Cycle

Science: 2nd Grade

Jesenia De La Rosa
July 14, 2009
Main Menu
Stage 1: The Egg
•The female butterfly lays an egg on a stem or leave. This is so
the caterpillar is close to its food source.
•The egg is small, round, and usually white colored.
Stage 2: Larva
•The larva is also called a
caterpillar which looks
like a worm.
•It has fascinating
patterns of stripes.
•This is the stage when it
eats and grows the most
so it sheds its skin about 4
times.
•It then attaches itself to a
twig for the next stage.
Stage 3: Chrysalis
•The chrysalis is also known
as the pupa.
•It is also known as the
transformation stage.
•The butterfly grows inside
the hardened shell.
•The chrysalis is usually a
dark color that camouflages
with its surroundings to
protect itself from predators.
•
Stage 4: Adult Butterfly

•This is the last stage.

•The butterflies are
colorful and range in sizes.
•They cannot eat but only
drink fluid.
•They will now fly, mate,
and reproduce and the
butterfly cycle will begin
again.
•It will only live a short
life.
Butterfly Anatomy
Watch the Process!
Click this link to see the butterfly develop and
pay attention to all four stages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnJA_BkPF_Y
How many stages does the butterfly go through?

a.3
b.4
c.5
d.too many
What is the second stage of the butterfly life cycle?

a.Adult butterfly
b.Egg
c.Larva (caterpillar)
d.Chrysalis (pupa)
e.
Which of the following is not a body part of the
butterfly?

a.Thorax
b.Abdomen
c.Proboscis
d.Hind legs
e.
f.
The chrysalis (pupa) is part of the _______ stage.

a.First
b.Second
c.Third
d.Fourth
Why does the chrysalis (pupa) camouflage its hard
outer shell with its environment?

a.So that it looks pretty

b.So that it is protected from predators
c.Those were the only colors
d.That’s what another butterfly told it to do
Excellent! Great Job!
Let’s Try Again!
References
The Life Cycle of Butterflies and Moths (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2009,
from http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle

Butterfly Life Cycle (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2009, from

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts
/lifecycle.shtml

Learn NC (n.d.). Retrieved July 7, 2009, from http://www.learnnc.org

Butterfly Word Search (2009). Retrieved July 8, 2009, from

http://www.primarygames.com/science/butterflies/games/word_search/se
arch.htm

Butterfly Metamorphosis (2007). Retrieved July 9, 2009, from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnJA_BkPF_Y