How long do butterflies live? Let us help you understand how long butterflies can live

Butterflies are also known as nymphalids, "hu die", "fu die er", and "die", among other names. They are generally brightly colored, with many stripes on their bodies and rich colors, and various markings on their wings and bodies. The largest butterflies can reach a wingspan of about 28-30 cm, while the smallest are only about 0.7 cm. There are approximately 14,000 species worldwide. Let us take a look below at how long butterflies live!

How long do butterflies live?

Butterfly lifespans vary. The longest-lived can reach 11 months, while the shortest-lived live only about 2-3 weeks. Regarding the adult stage of butterflies, according to records, the shortest is only a few hours. Generally speaking, the adult butterfly lives about two weeks. If the entire life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult) is included, the lifespan is about one month or more, but butterflies born in winter live longer.

What do butterflies eat?

1. Larvae: The feeding targets of butterfly larvae differ by species. Most larvae feed on leaves. Some species, such as the pollen butterfly and the orange-banded brimstone, feed on flower buds. Some species bore into tender pods or young fruits, for example, the pea blue bores into tender pea pods, and the gardenia blue bores into young gardenia fruits. In addition, among the Lycaenidae, a few species have carnivorous larvae, for example, the coffee mealybug blue feeds on coffee mealybugs, and the bamboo aphid blue feeds exclusively on bamboo aphids. This carnivorous type is a rare beneficial insect among butterflies.

2. Adults: Most butterflies feed on nectar. As for butterflies that feed on nectar, they do not only feed on nectar but also prefer the nectar of certain specific plants. For example, the blue swallowtail prefers the nectar of Liliaceae plants, the cabbage white prefers the nectar of Brassicaceae plants, and the leopard butterfly prefers the nectar of Asteraceae plants, and so on. Some butterflies that do not feed on nectar include the bamboo ringlet, which feeds on the sap of Ficus plants, and the pale purple nymphalid, which feeds on the sour sap of diseased oaks and poplars. Some butterflies also feed on the flesh of grapes, and butterflies are commonly seen feeding in grape fields.

The growth process of butterflies

1. Egg: Butterfly eggs are generally round or oval, with a waxy shell on the surface to prevent water evaporation, and a small pore at one end, which is the passage for sperm to enter. The size of butterfly eggs varies greatly among different species. Butterflies generally lay their eggs on the leaf surfaces of plants that the larvae like to eat, preparing food for the larvae.

2. Larva: After the larva hatches, its main activity is eating. It must consume large amounts of plant leaves. Larvae have diverse shapes, mostly fleshy worms, with a few being hairy caterpillars. Butterflies mainly harm agriculture during the larval stage. As the larva grows, it generally undergoes several molts.

3. Pupa: After the larva matures, it becomes a pupa. The larva generally fixes itself in a concealed place on the underside of plant leaves with a few threads, and then directly pupates, without a cocoon.

4. Adult: After the pupa matures, it breaks out of the pupal shell, but it needs a certain amount of time for its wings to dry and harden. At this time, the butterfly cannot evade natural enemies, and this is a dangerous period. After the wings spread out, the butterfly can fly. The forewings and hindwings of butterflies do not flap in sync, so butterflies fluctuate greatly when flying, with graceful posture. The so-called "dancing gracefully" comes from the flight of butterflies. Generally, adult butterflies die before winter arrives after mating and laying eggs, but some species migrate south to spend the winter.