A butterfly is a flying insect of the order Lepidoptera
belonging to one of the superfamilies Hesperioidea (the
skippers) and Papilionoidea (all other butterflies). Many
butterflies have remarkable colors and patterns on their wings.
People who study or collect butterflies (or the closely related
moths) are called lepidopterists. Butterfly watching is growing
in popularity as a hobby. The four stages in the lifecycle of a
butterfly Unlike many insects, butterflies do not experience a
nymph period, but instead go through a pupal stage which lies
between the larva and the adult stage (the imago). - Larva,
known as a caterpillar - Pupa (chrysalis) - Adult butterfly
(imago) Butterfly eggs consist of a hard-ridged outer layer of
shell, called the chorion. This is lined with a thin coating of
wax which prevents the egg from drying out before the larva has
had time to fully develop. Each egg contains a number of tiny
funnel-shaped openings at one end, called micropyles; the
purpose of these holes is to allow sperm t