The metamorphosis of the butterfly proceeds in the following phases:
How do butterflies mate and reproduce?
Panaxia Quadripunctaria is a nocturnal moth that displays akin life cycles and reproductive ways to butterflies and skippers as well. The developmental process spreads through 4 stages before having a “complete metamorphosis”. The whole process can last a month or a whole year! They, then lay their eggs and leave their offspring behind.
The Butterfly’s Life Cycle
Butterflies start as tiny and oval or round eggs laid on leaves. They are hard to spot due to their size, but once you find them, the caterpillar from the inside might be visible! The eggs vary in shape, size and even color and ultimately, these characteristics depend on the kind of butterfly that laid them.
Their second stage is called “The Larva” which means “caterpillar”. After the egg has hatched, larvae or caterpillars emerge. These mostly feed during this time and, thus they proceed to eating the leaf they were born onto. Their mother butterfly should know where to lay the eggs, because caterpillars enjoy certain leaves and due to their small frame, they cannot travel to a different one. Their growth, once they start eating, is instant and this happens by “molting” which means they shed their outgrown skin many times throughout this period.
Afterwards, comes the pupa stage or chrysalis. Once the caterpillar reaches its maximum length and weight they turn into chrysalis (cocoon). A common misconception is that during this time, the caterpillar is resting, but in truth, she is undergoing rapid changes!
At last, once the metamorphosis takes place, an adult butterfly emerges from the cocoon. Their wings are soft at first and folded against their bodies, because they the pupa is small, and they must fit all their new parts inside it. They rest, pump blood into their wings and within 4 hours tops, they can fly expertly and later go in search of their mate.
What are butterflies
Butterflies are insects of the genus Rhopalocera in the order Lepidoptera, which includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly colored wings and a showy, fluttering flight. Butterflies hold second place in the ranking of most known species within a single creature, as a total of 165,000 different species have been identified, divided into 127 families and 46 superfamilies.
Although we think of them as diurnal insects (since we usually see them during the day), most butterflies are actually nocturnal species. The diurnal species are called Rhopalocera and the nocturnal species are called Heterocera.
Butterflies feed mainly on fluids they ingest from plants, thanks to a structure in the form of a “tongue” called a proboscis that allows them to ingest the nectar of flowers and the internal water of plants. During this process, they also fulfill the role of pollinators. However, in the earliest stages of their life, these insects feed on leaves, fruits, flowers, roots, and stems.
The wings of butterflies are transparent, but we can perceive their striking and varied colors because their structure is protected by very fine scales that constantly reflect light. These scales also have the function of regulating their body temperature.
The life expectancy of a butterfly varies by species. Some survive only a few weeks, while others live for almost a year. The monarch butterfly, a very common and well-known species, surprises us with a life expectancy of nearly 10 months, making it one of the longest-lived butterflies. Factors such as weather conditions and the amount of food are crucial for their survival.
Where do butterflies live?
They can be found all over the world, as some species can even survive in polar regions. However, most of them prefer warmer areas with lush vegetation. Some, like the monarch butterfly, migrate to different regions in winter to complete their reproductive cycle.
Continue reading this other article if you want to learn more interesting facts about butterflies.
Reproduction of butterflies
The body of butterflies is divided into three parts: Head, thorax and abdomen. On the head they have two antennae, while from the thorax emerge six legs and two wings. The vital organs, including the reproductive organs, are located in the abdomen. Like humans, butterflies are either male or female. In addition, males and females have sexual dimorphism, meaning they are larger than their mates and also differ in color.
There is a wealth of interesting, sometimes perplexing behavior and biology when it comes to butterflies and sex. The butterfly cycle begins with the reproductive process, which includes two stages: Courtship and Mating.
Courtship
Courtship usually occurs from the air and often involves pheromones. Generally, female butterflies select males with which to mate, so males compete for the attention of females. The females, in turn, release their own pheromones, which can be detected by the males at a distance of nearly two kilometers.
Male butterflies and moths can emit acoustic signals or pulses to tell females that they are looking for a perfect mate. These pulses have the added benefit of sounding threatening to other male moths because they mimic the sounds that bats make when hunting.
Once the male and female have met, more intimate courtship behavior occurs. Courtship behavior varies from species to species. In some species, the male spins around in the air to court the female, and in others, both butterflies gently stroke each other’s antennae.
Initially, butterflies find each other based on colors and sounds. But at this stage, the decision whether to mate is made based on the pheromones that both sexes emit. In some species, the males transfer an aphrodisiac chemical to the females that also discourages other males from courting the newly mated female.
Mating
Mating
The next step in the butterfly cycle is mating. Both butterflies place their abdominal tips against each other, each pointing in a different direction, so that the exchange of gametes can take place.
The male inserts his reproductive organ into the abdomen of the female, releasing a sac called a spermatophore that contains the sperm. The female’s orifice, in turn, picks up the pouch and uses it to fertilize the eggs that are inside her body.
In most species, mating takes place in a place where both individuals can remain immobile, such as on a rock, leaf, or similar. During the process, butterflies are vulnerable to attack by predators, so some have evolved the ability to mate in flight.
If you want to learn more about the life cycle of a butterfly, continue reading this other article, where we explain how long the life cycle of a butterfly is.
