​PHILIPPINE
LEPIDOPTERA
Butterfly Life Cycle
Butterflies have fascinating life-cycles that are used in many countries to teach children about the natural world. The transformation from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis is one of the wonders of nature.
1. All butterflies start off as eggs. Some eggs are smaller than a millimeter and almost all are yellow or green.
2. A caterpillar once it hatches often eats its own eggshell and then begins to eat the plant it was laid on. Caterpillars must molt or shed their own skin in order to grow. Most do this 4 to 5 times in a period of about 2 weeks.
3. A fully grown caterpillar finds a safe place to pupate. Some caterpillars spin cocoons of silken threads in which they pupate.
4. Inside the caterpillar is undergoing amazing chemical changes, and gradually the adult butterfly emerges.
5. The adult butterfly breaks out of its pupa. Its wings and body are still soft so it pumps blood into its newly formed wings. Within about half an hour, the exoskeleton hardens and the wings become rigid. The new adult's task is to find a mate
In one day, a caterpillar can eat many times its weight in food. Most of the food is stored as fat for later stages of life, such as the metamorphosis from caterpillar to adult. During that time the butterfly can't eat.
 ARCHDUKE, Lexias satrapes (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae) © Albert Kang |  AUTUMN LEAF, Doleschallia bisaltide philippensis (Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae, Nymphaliniini) © Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes |
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 BLUE PANSY, Junonia orithya (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae) © Shekai Alaban |  TAWNY RAJAH, Charaxes bajula adoracion Schroeder & Treadaway 1989 (Nymphalidae; Charaxinae; Charaxini) © Leslie Ogalesco Host Plant: Tuba (Croton tiglium) |
 GOLDEN-TAILED HAIRSTREAK, Cheritra orpheus orpheus (Lycaenidae; Thedlinae; Cheritrini) © Linda Alisto Host plant: Mangifera indica (Indian Mango) |  WANDERER, Pareronia boebera arsamota Fruhstorfer 1910 (Pieridae; Pierinae) © John Alaban |
 BROWN AWL, Badamia exclamationis (Hesperiidae; Coeliadinae) © Linda Alisto |  CHOCOLATE ALBATROSS, Appias lyncida (Pieridae; Pierinae) © Shekai Alaban |
 CLIPPER, Parthenos sylvia (Nymphalidae; Limenitidinae) © Shekai Alaban |  GREY GLASSY TIGER, Ideopsis juventa manillana (Nymphalidae; Danainae; Danaini) © Linda Alisto & Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes |
 COMMANDER, Moduza procris (Nymphalidae; Limenitidinae) © Shekai Alaban |  COMMON GRASS YELLOW, Eurema hecabe (Pieridae; Coliadinae) © Shekai Alaban |
 COMMON JAY, Graphium doson (Papilionidae; Papilioninae) © Leana Lahom-Cristobal |  COMMON LEOPARD, Phalanta phalantha (Nymphalidae; Heliconiinae) © Shekai Alaban |
 COMMON LIME, Papilio demoleus (Papilionidae; Papilioninae) © Shekai Alaban |  COMMON MORMON, Papilio polytes (Papilionidae; Papilioninae) © Joy Valencia Villafuerte-Hafalla |
 GREAT EGGFLY, Hypolimnas bolina (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae) © Joy Valencia Villafuerte-Hafalla |  GREAT JAY or PALE GREEN TRIANGLE Graphium or Arisbe eurypylus gordion (Papilionidae; Papilioninae; Leptocircini) ©Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes |
 GREY PANSY, Junonia atlites (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae) © Shekai Alaban |  INDIAN CABBAGE WHITE Pieris canidia canidia (Pieridae; Pierinae) © Linda Alisto Baguio City |
 MOTTLED EMIGRANT, Catopsilia pyranthe (Pieridae; Coliadinae) © Shekai Alaban |  PALE GREEN AWLET, Bibasis gomata syn. Burara gomata (Hesperiidae; Coeliadinae) © Joy Valencia Villafuerte-Hafalla |
 PEACOCK PANSY, Junonia almana (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae) © Shekai Alaban |  PLAIN TIGER or AFRICAN MONARCH, Danaus chrysippus (Nymphalidae; Danainae) © Rey M. Abellada (Caterpillar and adult butterfly) © Linda Alisto (pupa) |
 RUSTIC, Cupha arias (Nymphalidae; Heliconiinae) © Arth Ropod |  PSYCHE, Leptosia nina (Pieridae; Pierinae) © Shekai Alaban |
 TAILED JAY, Graphium agamemnon agamemnon (Papilionidae; Papilioninae; Leptocircini) |  WOOD NYMPH or GREY GLASSY TIGER, Ideopsis juventa (Nymphalidae; Danainae) © Shekai Alaban |
 PLAIN PALM DART Cephrenes acalle chrysozona Plötz 1883 (Hesperiidae; Hesperiinae) © Arlene E. Halabaso |  COMMON GRASS YELLOW, Eurema hecabe tamiathis Fruhstorfer, 1910 (Pieridae; Coliadinae) © Romana Pahilanga Delos Reyes (Leps Bago​) Host Plant: Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora) |
 BLUE PANSY Junonia orithya leucasia Fruhstorfer 1912 (Nymphalidae; Nymphalinae; Nymphaliini) © Luzprescil Go Pabilona |