Observing Chrysalises

What a special treat! Kiara and her family are visiting a butterfly garden today. They will be able to see all the different stages of a butterfly’s life. Let’s take a closer look.

First, they meet Ms. Flutter, the butterfly expert. She will teach them all about butterflies.

Take a look through the binoculars. Can you see the monarch butterfly?

Ah, there’s a swallowtail. Why do you think it’s called that name?

Kiara wonders how butterflies become butterflies. Ms. Flutter shows Kiara some chrysalises. This is the pupa stage of the butterfly, but two steps come before this.

First, the female butterfly lays eggs.

About two weeks later, the eggs hatch into larva. Larvae are also called caterpillars. The caterpillars eat lots of leaves to get nice and fat.

A couple of weeks later, the larvae hang upside-down wrapped in a hard shell called a chrysalis. During that time, the caterpillar grows wings and changes into a butterfly.

When its all done changing, the adult butterfly breaks out of the chrysalis. Isn’t it beautiful? The butterfly hangs upside down and pumps its wings to make it stronger. Then it’s ready to fly.

Kiara and her family enjoy the rest of the afternoon observing all the butterflies flitting from flower to flower, sipping nectar through their straw-like mouths.