![The Metamorphosis of Butterflies
According to the student edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, metamorphosis is “a series of dramatic changes in an organism’s body shape and structure as it develops after hatching or being born.” The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is just one example of a metamorphosis that occurs in thousands of insect species and amphibians.
As the diagram [above] shows, the complete metamorphosis of butterflies and moths involves four stages: 1. the egg, 2. the larva (caterpillar), 3. the pupa (also called chrysalis or cocoon) and 4. the adult.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/6dMIm30gnmgbh77wYnY5uVlao1_500.jpg)
The Metamorphosis of Butterflies
According to the student edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, metamorphosis is “a series of dramatic changes in an organism’s body shape and structure as it develops after hatching or being born.” The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is just one example of a metamorphosis that occurs in thousands of insect species and amphibians.
As the diagram [above] shows, the complete metamorphosis of butterflies and moths involves four stages: 1. the egg, 2. the larva (caterpillar), 3. the pupa (also called chrysalis or cocoon) and 4. the adult.
