Storeroom Stories: Butterfly Life Cycle

PAST EXHIBIT

All butterflies begin their life as an egg. Adult butterflies often lay many eggs beneath leaves on a tree or shrub. When the caterpillars hatch, they will being to eat the leaves they were born on. As the caterpillars grow, they will often molt, or shed, their skin. Caterpillars grow very fast, spending their entire time in this stage eating and getting larger.

The next stage in the butterfly life cycle is the pupal stage. The caterpillar will encase itself within a cocoon and its body will begin to change. The drastic change the caterpillar will undergo is known as metamorphosis. Once the metamorphosis is complete, the insect will emerge as a butterfly with folded wings. Butterflies will rest once leaving their cocoon and flap their wings to get the blood flowing to them. Once the wings are fully unfolded the butterfly will fly away and look for a mate to reproduce and lay eggs, starting the cycle over again.

This month’s Storeroom Story is inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s OVO performance which takes a look into the beautiful life of insects and  explores the way they work, eat, play, crawl, flutter, and more! On August 10, come by the Museum as the performers offer a preview of the show in the Arthur M. Wilcox Auditorium! After the ten-minute performance visit the Museum to view this special Storeroom Story on metamorphosis and create a bug craft with your family! FREE for Museum members and FREE with admission ($12/adults, $5/children, under 3 free).