See the fascinating transformation from caterpillar to butterfly!
看看从毛毛虫到蝴蝶的迷人转变吧！
Ready for the lowdown on one of nature's most beautiful insects? Then check out our butterfly life cycle facts!
准备好揭露自然界最美丽的昆虫之一了吗？那就看看我们蝴蝶的生命周期吧！
We all love butterflies for their beautiful, brightly-coloured wings. But did you know that these fab flyers begin life as something completely different?
我们都喜欢蝴蝶美丽的，鲜艳的翅膀。但你知道吗，这些fab传单一开始就完全不同了？
As they grow, they undergo one seriously terrific transformation – a process known as "metamorphosis".
随着它们的成长，它们经历了一个非常可怕的转变——一个被称为"蜕变"的过程。
Join us as we follow the life-cycle of this quirky creature, from the egg to the air!
加入我们，让我们跟随这个古怪生物的生命周期，从鸡蛋到空气！
Stage 1: the egg
第一阶段：蛋
It all starts when a female butterfly lays her eggs, usually on leaves or stems of plants. Inside these tiny eggs, caterpillars grow.
这一切都是从雌蝶产卵开始的，通常是在植物的叶子或茎上。在这些小虫卵里，毛毛虫生长。
Depending on the species, the eggs can vary in shape and texture – they can be round, oval or cylindrical, and smooth, bumpy or wrinkled.
根据种类的不同，卵子的形状和质地也会有所不同——它们可以是圆形、椭圆形或圆柱形，也可以是光滑、凹凸或褶皱的。
The time it takes for the eggs to hatch can also vary – in some species, they will hatch within a few weeks and in others they will only hatch once the weather is warm enough.
卵孵化所需的时间也可能有所不同——在某些物种中，它们会在几周内孵化，而在另一些物种中，它们只会在天气足够暖和时孵化。
Stage 2: the caterpillar
第二阶段：毛虫
Once ready, the caterpillar leaves its egg home and enters the big outside world! And these little critters have one serious appetite – they actually eat their way out of the egg and immediately start chomping on the leaves of the host plant.
一旦准备好，毛毛虫离开它的卵家，进入外面的大世界！而这些小动物有一个严重的胃口-他们实际上吃出了鸡蛋的方式，并立即开始大嚼寄主植物的叶子。
During this stage, they shed their skin four or five times – as the caterpillar grows, its skin becomes too tight and splits open, revealing a new, larger skin underneath.
在这一阶段，它们会蜕皮四到五次——随着毛毛虫的生长，它的皮肤变得太紧，裂开，露出下面新的、更大的皮肤。
A fully grown caterpillar can be over 100 times larger than when it emerged from its egg. Wow!
一条完全发育成熟的毛虫可以比它从卵中出来时大100多倍。真 的！
Stage 3: the pupa
第三阶段：蛹
Once fully grown, the caterpillar forms itself into a "pupa" (or chrysalis) – a kind of vessel in which the caterpillar changes into a butterfly.
一旦毛毛虫完全长大，就会形成一个"蛹"（或蛹）——一种毛毛虫变成蝴蝶的容器。
They usually do this on twigs or safe, hidden areas around the host plant. The "pupa" stage may last a few weeks to several months depending on the species.
它们通常在小枝上或寄主植物周围安全、隐蔽的地方这样做。蛹期可能持续几周到几个月，这取决于物种。
During this time, a hardened case forms around the pupa to protect it from predators and extreme weather conditions.
在此期间，蛹周围形成一个坚硬的外壳，以保护它免受捕食者和极端天气条件的影响。
And inside, the tissue, limbs and organs of the caterpillar transform. The result? A wonderful winged butterfly!
在里面，毛毛虫的组织、四肢和器官都会发生变化。结果呢？一只美丽的翅膀蝴蝶！
Stage 4: the butterfly
第四阶段：蝴蝶
Once the butterfly is ready to emerge, the case around the pupa splits open. But it's not time for take off just yet, as the wings are at first wet, soft and wrinkled against its body.
一旦蝴蝶准备好出现，蛹周围的盒子就会裂开。但现在还不是起飞的时候，因为翅膀刚开始湿了，柔软，在身体上有皱纹。
The butterfly waits for its wings to dry, and pumps a liquid called hemolymph into them so that they become big and strong.
蝴蝶等待翅膀变干，然后将一种叫做血淋巴的液体注入翅膀，使翅膀变大变强。
Once fit for flight, this brilliant bug then takes to the air in search for flowers to feed on and for other butterflies to mate with. And that's the cycle complete – and ready to start all over again!
一旦适合飞行，这只聪明的虫子就会飞到空中寻找花朵和其他蝴蝶交配。这是一个完整的循环-准备好重新开始！
Did you know…?
Moths also go through this process of metamorphosis. below – the largest moth in the world!
你知道…？
蛾子也会经历这个蜕变的过程。下面是世界上最大的飞蛾！
