Preschool Butterflies Fast Facts



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 striking colours and patterns on their wings. People who study or collect butterflies (or the closely- related moths) are called lepidopterists.

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).

* Egg
* Larva, known as a caterpillar
* Pupa (chrysalis)
* Adult butterfly (imago)

* Egg
* Larva
* Pupa
* Butterfly


