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Animal Themes
Insects
Invertebrates

Butterflies & Moths: Life Cycle

Butterflies & Moths: Life Cycle
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.02

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    commonly, hatching, molt, plural, segment, solution, straighten, layer, adult, rear, meaning, outfit, onto, stage, underneath, world

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Other Languages
     Spanish: Mariposas y Polillas: Ciclo de Vida

Butterflies & Moths: Life Cycle   
1     Butterflies and moths are like Cinderella in the world of insects! Although they don't have a fairy godmother to give them a pumpkin carriage and a beautiful outfit, they look completely astonishing as soon as they step out of their sealed rooms. Fortunately, butterflies and moths do not have to worry about the midnight rule that Cinderella must adhere to. Butterflies and moths get to keep their pretty clothes even after the clock strikes at twelve!
 
2     So, what do butterflies and moths look like before they have this complete makeover? Well, let's just say that the appearance of the young has no resemblance to that of the adult! In fact, the young looks so different from the adult that we don't even call it a butterfly or a moth - we call it a caterpillar.
 
3     Butterflies and moths start their life in the form of eggs. When the time of hatching comes, caterpillars emerge. Caterpillars have no wings, so they cannot fly. To get around, caterpillars must crawl. Caterpillars have long, plump bodies that are divided into 13 segments. On the front segments are their 3 pairs of legs. How do caterpillars drag themselves around with just 3 pairs of legs all located at the front of their bodies? Not to worry, caterpillars have a perfect solution to avoid moving around awkwardly. Caterpillars have about 5 pairs of leg-like muscular stumps on their rear segments. Except for the very last pair, we call these muscular stumps "prolegs." The two muscular stumps on the last segment of their bodies are called claspers. With the help of their prolegs and claspers, caterpillars hold onto leaves or tree branches (sometimes, our clothes or hair!) firmly and maneuver their way around swiftly.

Paragraphs 4 to 6:
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