Life Cycle of a Butterfly Diagram
Free printable life cycle of a butterfly diagram — a labeled illustration of the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly stages. Download a high-resolution PDF or PNG for Letter paper.
The four stages of a butterfly's life
A butterfly goes through four stages as it grows, a process called metamorphosis. Here is what happens at each labeled part of the diagram:
| Stage | What it does |
|---|---|
| Egg | A tiny egg is laid on a leaf. |
| Caterpillar | The egg hatches into a caterpillar (larva) that eats leaves and grows quickly. |
| Chrysalis | The caterpillar forms a chrysalis (pupa) and changes completely inside. |
| Butterfly | An adult butterfly emerges, ready to fly and lay new eggs — starting the cycle again. |
Companion worksheet
A free fill-in worksheet with an answer key, built from the labels above — students match each stage to its description, then answer a couple of short questions. Great for a quick check after using the diagram.
How to print
Choose Download PDF for a ready-to-print file that fits US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape, or Download PNG for the high-resolution image.
Frequently asked questions
What are the stages of a butterfly life cycle?
The four stages are the egg, the caterpillar (larva), the chrysalis (pupa) and the adult butterfly.
What is metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis is the big change in body shape an animal like a butterfly goes through as it grows from an egg into an adult.
What paper size should I print this on?
The diagram is sized for standard US Letter paper (8.5 × 11") in landscape orientation. Use "Download PDF" for a print-ready file that fits the page automatically.