A butterfly house can mean very different things. It may be a large tropical conservatory filled with free-flying butterflies, a mesh enclosure used for observing caterpillars, or the small wooden butterfly houses commonly sold for backyard gardens. Public butterfly houses give visitors an opportunity to see butterflies up close, learn about their life cycle, and … Read more
Butterfly eggs are the first stage of the butterfly life cycle. Although they’re easy to overlook, these tiny structures contain developing caterpillars that will eventually hatch, feed, grow, form chrysalises, and become adult butterflies. Female butterflies don’t simply place their eggs anywhere. Many species carefully select particular host plants that their caterpillars will be able … Read more
A butterfly cocoon is a common name for the protective-looking stage between a caterpillar and an adult butterfly. But there’s an important difference: butterflies generally form a chrysalis, while many moth caterpillars spin silk cocoons. Inside the chrysalis, the developing butterfly undergoes an extraordinary transformation. Its body changes as adult wings, antennae, legs, and other … Read more
A butterfly habitat provides much more than colorful flowers. To support butterflies throughout their entire life cycle, a habitat needs resources for both adults and caterpillars, along with places where butterflies can rest, shelter, and complete their development. One of the most important differences is between nectar plants and host plants. Adult butterflies visit flowers … Read more