When do butterflies lay eggs

As they head farther north, the females look for young milkweed plants to lay their eggs. It takes 3 to 8 days for an egg to develop. Then the caterpillar larva hatches, and grows for about 15 days. After that comes the pupal chrysalis stage. Monarchs born in Canada have completed their life cycle and now a second generation of butterflies appears. In July, you might see eggs, caterpillars, pupae and adults all at the same time! Like all monarchs, this generation begins life on plants in the genus Asclepias, these are species of milkweed.

The most important host plants for Generation 1 monarchs in the southern US are Asclepias oenotheroides, A. Monarchs in Generation 2 are the grandchildren of the overwintering monarchs. They are laid throughout much of eastern North America from late April through June. Generation 2 larvae are widely distributed throughout the eastern United States, first beginning to appear in the south in early May, and in the north in mid to late May.

Eggs that become generation 2 may be laid as late as July in the north. These larvae also eat milkweed species; a few of the main species that they use include A. Generation 2 adults emerge in June and July, and mate and lay eggs soon after emerging. Most of those that begin their lives in the south move north as adults, since the southern summers are too hot and dry for their offspring.

Those laid farther north probably do not move far, and can use all of their energy to produce as many offspring as possible. Monarchs in Generations 3 and 4 are the great- and great-great grandchildren of the overwintering monarchs. They are laid throughout the northern part of the range of eastern migratory monarchs from late May through July Generation 3 , and late June through August Generation 4. Some generation 3 individuals emerge early enough to reproduce in the northern part of their breeding range or after moving south see immature distribution map.

However, Generation 3 individuals that emerge late in August will undergo diapause and migrate to Mexico, as will most Generation 4 individuals. Generations 3 and 4 monarch eggs are laid throughout the northern part of their range in July and August.

Some adults move south in late July and August, and may lay eggs as late as October in the southern part of the US. Some generation 3 monarchs emerge early enough to produce another summer generation.

The caterpillar attaches itself to a twig, a wall or some other support and the exoskeleton splits open to reveal the chrysalis. The chrysalis hangs down like a small sack until the transformation to butterfly is complete. The casual observer may think that because the pupa is motionless that very little is going on during this "resting stage.

The pupa does not feed but instead gets its energy from the food eaten by the larval stage. Depending on the species, the pupal stage may last for just a few days or it may last for more than a year. Many butterfly species overwinter or hibernate as pupae. The fourth and final stage of the life cycle is the adult.

Once the chrysalis casing splits, the butterfly emerges. It will eventually mate and lay eggs to begin the cycle all over again. Most adult butterflies will live only a week or two, while a few species may live as long as 18 months. Images in this section are of the life cycle of the black swallowtail on one of its host plants, fennel.

Butterflies are complex creatures. Their day-to-day lives can be characterized by many activities. If you are observant you may see butterflies involved in many of the follow activities. To observe some activities, such as hybernation, may involve some detective work. To observe other activities such as basking, puddling, or migrating, you will need to be at the proper place at the proper time.

Keep an activity log and see how many different butterflies you can spot involved in each activity. The information from the individual butterfly pages may give you some hints as to where or on what plants some of these activities are likely to occur. The larval or caterpillar stage and the adult butterfly have very different food preferences, largely due to the differences in their mouth parts.

Both types of foods must be available in order for the butterfly to complete its life cycle. Caterpillars are very particular about what they eat, which is why the female butterfly lays her eggs only on certain plants. She instinctively knows what plants will serve as suitable food for the hungry caterpillars that hatch from her eggs.

Caterpillars don't move much and may spend their entire lives on the same plant or even the same leaf! Their primary goal is to eat as much as they can so that they become large enough to pupate.

Caterpillars have chewing mouth parts, called mandibles, which enable them to eat leaves and other plant parts. Some caterpillars are considered pests because of the damage they do to crops. Caterpillars do not need to drink additional water because they get all they need from the plants they eat.

Adult butterflies are also selective about what they eat. Unlike caterpillars, butterflies can roam about and look for suitable food over a much broader territory. In most cases, adult butterflies are able to feed only on various liquids.

They drink through a tube-like tongue called a proboscis. It uncoils to sip liquid food, and then coils up again into a spiral when the butterfly is not feeding.

Most butterflies prefer flower nectar, but others may feed on the liquids found in rotting fruit, in ooze from trees, and in animal dung. Butterflies prefer to feed in sunny areas protected from wind. A recent University of Kentucky Department of Entomology study compared four commonly available zinnia cultivars with regard to their attractiveness to butterflies. Butterflies are cold-blooded , meaning they cannot regulate their own body temperature.

As a result, their body temperature changes with the temperature of their surroundings. If they get too cold, they are unable to fly and must warm up their muscles in order to resume flight.

If the temperature drops too low, they may seek a light colored rock, sand or a leaf in a sunny spot and bask. Butterflies bask with their wings spread out in order to soak up the sun's heat. When butterflies get too hot, they may head for shade or for cool areas like puddles. Some species will gather at shallow mud puddles or wet sandy areas, sipping the mineral-rich water.

Generally more males than females puddle and it is believed that the salts and nutrients in the puddles are needed for successful mating. Patrolling and perching. There are two methods that a male butterfly might use in order to search for a female mate. It might patrol or fly over a particular area where other butterflies are active.

If it sees a possible mate, it will fly in for a closer look. Or, instead, it might perch on a tall plant in an area where females may be present. If it spots a likely mate, it will swoop in to investigate. In either case, if he finds a suitable female he will begin the mating ritual. If he finds another male instead, a fierce fight may ensue. A male butterfly has several methods of determining whether he has found a female of his own species.

One way is by sight. The male will look for butterflies with wings that are the correct color and pattern. When a male sights a potential mate it will fly closer, often behind or above the female. Once closer, the male will release special chemicals, called pheromones , while it flutters its wings a bit more than usual. The male may also do a special "courtship dance" to attract the female. These "dances" consist of flight patterns that are peculiar to that species of butterfly.

If the female is interested she may join the male's dance. They will then mate by joining together end to end at their abdomens. During the mating process, when their bodies are joined, the male passes sperm to the female. As the eggs later pass through the female's egg-laying tube, they are fertilized by the sperm. The male butterfly often dies soon after mating. After mating with a male, the female butterfly must go in search of a plant on which to lay her eggs.

Because the caterpillars that will hatch from her eggs will be very particular about what they eat, she must be very particular in choosing a plant. She can recognize the right plant species by its leaf color and shape.

Just to be sure, however, she may beat on the leaf with her feet. This scratches the leaf surface, causing a characteristic plant odor to be released. Once she is sure she has found the correct plant species, she will go about the business of egg-laying. While laying her eggs, they are fertilized with the sperm that has been stored in her body since mating.