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[[Image:Butterfly.jpg|right|thumb|The Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterfly]]
[[Image:Butterfly.jpg|right|thumb|The Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterfly]]
A '''butterfly''' is an insect belonging to the order Lepidoptera. They are known for their delicate and beautiful wings and for their life cycle beginning as a [[caterpillar]] (or larva). The transformation from caterpillar into butterfly is an example of [[metamorphosis]]. The purpose of the stage as a caterpillar is for growth - the multi-legged caterpillar may shed its skin four times. [http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/life-cycle] Most caterpillars consume leaves, and eat abundantly. The caterpillar stage may last two weeks. [http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Cycle.htm]
A '''butterfly''' is an [[insect]] belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea. They are known for their delicate and beautiful wings and for their life cycle beginning as a [[caterpillar]] (or larva). The transformation from caterpillar into butterfly is an example of [[metamorphosis]]. The purpose of the stage as a caterpillar is for growth - the multi-legged caterpillar may shed its skin four times.<ref>http://bsi.montana.edu/web/kidsbutterfly/life-cycle</ref> Most caterpillars consume leaves and eat abundantly. The caterpillar stage may last two weeks.<ref>http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Cycle.htm</ref>
The next stage is for the caterpillar (which is known as a pupa in this stage) to enter a chrysalis for about ten days. (The chrysalis is not a cocoon; a cocoon is a protective casing made out of silk by certain types of larvae, such as [[moth]] caterpillars.) The chrysalis will become transparent about 24 hours before the pupa escapes and becomes a butterfly. [http://adver-net.com/Monemerg.html] The butterfly will struggle to escape the chrysalis, but this process gives it strength. Within several hours, the butterfly will have the ability to fly.
[[Image:Caterpillar saturniidae.jpg|thumb|right|Caterpillar of family Saturniidae]]
[[File:Butterfly tree.jpg|thumb|left|240px|In the Mexican Rainforest.]]
The next stage is for the caterpillar (which is known as a pupa in this stage) to enter a chrysalis for about ten days. (The chrysalis is not a cocoon; a cocoon is a protective casing made out of [[silk]] by certain types of larvae, such as the caterpillars of typical [[moth]]s.) The chrysalis will become transparent about 24 hours before the pupa escapes and becomes a butterfly.<ref>http://adver-net.com/Monemerg.html</ref> The butterfly will struggle to escape the chrysalis, but this process gives it strength. Within several hours, the butterfly will have the ability to fly.
[[Category: Insects]]
The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most easily recognizable butterflies, with its distinctive orange and black appearance. The migration cycle of this butterfly is tracked by a program called Monarch Watch, headquartered at the [[University of Kansas]]. Volunteers track monarchs, put small informational tags on them, and let them free again.<ref>http://www.gpnc.org/monarch.htm</ref> Trackers further south will search for monarchs with tags, and learn about the migration history of that monarch.
==External links==
* [http://monarchwatch.org/ Monarch Watch]
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Insects]]