One Insect, Four Lives

16 One Insect, Four Lives Nature is amazing! Take a close look at the world of insects and you will discover many unbelievable things. Consider butterflies, for example. They have beautiful, colourful wings, and strong, steady flying skills. On summer days, we see them flying gracefully over flower gardens and wild fields. But, did you know that butterflies live three separate lives before they become the flying insects we all know? They begin their lives as one thing, change into another, and then another. Finally, they emerge as beautiful flying insects. It's true. And it's one of the amazing wonders of nature. In the beginning, there is an egg. It's usually small and colourful. Female butterflies lay an egg on a leaf or stem of a plant. When you look at this tiny egg, it's hard to believe that in a few days, it will become something completely different.

In time, it emerges into a new life. No longer small and immobile, the egg becomes a walking insect. This insect is called a caterpillar. It now has legs, eyes, a mouth and a large body. A new life has begun. The caterpillar eats, and eats, and eats. It can walk. It can see. But it is still not a butterfly. Soon, after growing big, the caterpillar makes acover for itself. It wraps itself in this nice protective blanket and goes to sleep. This stage of a butterfly's life is known as the " pupa" stage. What happens next is truly amazing! After a period of time, the blanket breaks and a wet, weak butterfly appears. It now has six legs, a mouth, eyes and wings. Soon, the wings fill with blood, and the beautiful, colourful butterfly spreads its wings and flies away. After a few weeks pass, this adult butterfly lays her eggs, and the cycle begins all over again. This is just one example of the wonders of nature. Look around the natural world, and you will learn many truly amazing things.