THE BUTTERFLIES

Student: Michelle Vallecillo

 What are butterflies?

The different existing species

of lepidopteran insects (from
the Greek lepsis, "scales", and
pteron, "wings"), almost
always flying, are known by
the popular name of butterfly,
one of the most numerous
among all insects on the
planet.
There are around 165,000 different species of butterflies,
classified into 127 families.
Butterflies go through a metamorphosis through a chrysalis stage.
Complex life cycle. Before reaching
adulthood, butterflies must hatch
from an egg in the form of a larva or
caterpillar, feed tenaciously until they
gather enough nutrients and, after a
few weeks, weave a cocoon or pupa,
within which metamorphosis will take
place. Finally, the imago or flying
adult will emerge from the cocoon.