Thank you for visiting our butterfly garden! My son Ian and I have set up a live Webcam at our new garden. We will be starting with new cocoons shortly. Watch with us as our caterpillars progress through the stages of life. We’re excited to watch them change into beautiful butterflies!

Make sure to check out the Photo Gallery as well. You’ll find pictures of a butterfly exhibit we visited. I’ll also post photo updates as the transformation progresses.

Want to chat about the butterflies? Head to the Butterfly Forum! Messages are free to read, but you must be a member of Kim’s Club to post.
Life Cycle of a Butterfly

1) Egg Stage – The female butterfly lays an egg on a plant.

2) Larva Stage – The egg hatches and the larva (caterpillar) comes out. The caterpillar feeds on the plant and grows. The caterpillar outgrows its skin and sheds it four or five times.

3) Pupa Stage –When full grown, the caterpillar makes a silk pad on a leaf or twig and attaches itself. When its skin sheds for the last time, it is in the pupa stage. Under this last layer of skin lies the chrysalis, which goes through many stages. The butterfly begins forming inside the chrysalis. This is the stage of transformation.

4) Adult Stage – The chrysalis eventually splits and a butterfly emerges! Adults progress through the reproductive and mobile stages. They undergo courtship, mating and egg-laying. They also migrate or colonize new habitats.