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From Egg to Larva
A large number of small butterfly eggs are laid at once to increase the chance of some surviving into the next stage of metamorphosis. This number can range from a few hundred to more than one thousand and those that hatch into caterpillars will do so within a few days. Female butterflies lay their eggs on or near the plants that will become food for the caterpillars once the eggs have hatched.
Caterpillar Characteristics
Caterpillar features include mouths that are capable of chewing plants and six eyes with narrow field of vision. Some caterpillars also have patterns that mimic eyes on their bodies, used for defense. They have several pairs of legs along the length of their bodies, some with segments, some that are stump-like and some with hooks that are designed for gripping onto plants. As caterpillars are easy prey for animals such as small mammals, birds, bats, insects and parasites, particularly because they move so slowly, they are often colored in a way that allows them to camouflage into their background as a defense mechanism. Some may be a similar shade of green to the plants that they eat, for example.
Feeding
The most important role of butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, is to eat. The first material that a caterpillar eats is its own egg shell in order to hatch from the egg. Most will then eat only one type of plant or a limited range of plants. Some will only eat one part of a particular plant. There are a few types, however, that eat insects, including those that trick ants into carrying them into their nests before feeding on their young. Another defense mechanism of butterfly caterpillars is to eat plants which are harmless to them but makes them toxic or foul-tasting to predators. Monarch caterpillars, which feed on milkweed, are an example.
Growth
Caterpillars may grow up to 100 times the size they were when they hatched during this stage. All of a butterfly's growth occurs as a caterpillar. As caterpillar skin is incapable of stretching very far, it is necessary for them to shed this exoskeleton around 4 or 5 times to allow for growth before reaching the next stage of butterfly metamorphosis. Caterpillars that eat well and have a supply of good quality nutrients will grow bigger and will transform into a pupa sooner.
From Larva to Pupa
Once a caterpillar has stopped the feeding stage and reached its full growth potential, it will begin the process of transforming into a pupa, or chrysalis. This stage often occurs in winter and can last weeks or months. This is the final stage in the life cycle of a butterfly before reaching adulthood. Caterpillars prepare themselves well for this next stage through constant feeding.