Butterfly world
In collaboration with Gli Amici della Terra  |
with the contribution of the
Caript Foundation
 |
BUTTERFLIES: THE LIFE CYCLE
Like the majority of insects, butterflies go through metamorphosis, that is the transformation from larva to adult. In butterflies this larval stage is called caterpillar. The caterpillar hatches out of the egg and in the course of its growth it sheds its skin 4 or 5 times (known as moults), depending on its sex and species.
Once it is fully grown, the caterpillar attaches itself to a support by means of silk threads, or seeks a shelter where it weaves a silk cocoon and transforms itself into a chrysalis.
The Chrysalis is practically immobile, since it cannot move from the place to which it has anchored, and after about two weeks the butterfly breaks its way out of the cocoon. The life of a butterfly is generally very short, ranging from a few days to one or two weeks, and only occasionally arriving at a month of life. However, there are quite a few exceptions, ranging from the large moths of the Saturnidae, who have very short lives and do not feed at all, so that they have lost their mouths through atrophy, and other relatively small species, such as the Heliconidae, which live for several months and in quite large groups.
Example of life cycle of a Monarch butterfly. For each stage of development, the duration in days is indicated. The generational cycle takes at least two months.
Some examples of butterflies with long and short lives
The most longevous European butterfly
The Common Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni
They emerge at the end of summer, winter as butterflies and fly right through to the next summer, living up to over a year.
The European Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io) and the Mourning Cloak Butterfly (Vanessa antiopa)
They pass the winter as butterflies and can arrive at over 8 months of life.
The Giant Peacock Moth (Saturnia pyri)
This is the largest European moth, but is also one of those with the shortest life, surviving only a few days.
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NOCTURNAL BUTTERFLIES