See the fascinating transformation from caterpillar to butterfly!
看看從毛毛蟲到蝴蝶的迷人轉變吧！
Ready for the lowdown on one of nature's most beautiful insects? Then check out our butterfly life cycle facts!
準備好揭露自然界最美麗的昆蟲之一了嗎？那就看看我們蝴蝶的生命週期吧！
We all love butterflies for their beautiful, brightly-coloured wings. But did you know that these fab flyers begin life as something completely different?
我們都喜歡蝴蝶美麗的，鮮豔的翅膀。但你知道嗎，這些fab傳單一開始就完全不同了？
As they grow, they undergo one seriously terrific transformation – a process known as "metamorphosis".
隨著它們的成長，它們經歷了一個非常可怕的轉變——一個被稱為"蛻變"的過程。
Join us as we follow the life-cycle of this quirky creature, from the egg to the air!
加入我們，讓我們跟隨這個古怪生物的生命週期，從雞蛋到空氣！
Stage 1: the egg
第一階段：蛋
It all starts when a female butterfly lays her eggs, usually on leaves or stems of plants. Inside these tiny eggs, caterpillars grow.
這一切都是從雌蝶產卵開始的，通常是在植物的葉子或莖上。在這些小蟲卵裡，毛毛蟲生長。
Depending on the species, the eggs can vary in shape and texture – they can be round, oval or cylindrical, and smooth, bumpy or wrinkled.
根據種類的不同，卵子的形狀和質地也會有所不同——它們可以是圓形、橢圓形或圓柱形，也可以是光滑、凹凸或褶皺的。
The time it takes for the eggs to hatch can also vary – in some species, they will hatch within a few weeks and in others they will only hatch once the weather is warm enough.
卵孵化所需的時間也可能有所不同——在某些物種中，它們會在幾周內孵化，而在另一些物種中，它們只會在天氣足夠暖和時孵化。
Stage 2: the caterpillar
第二階段：毛蟲
Once ready, the caterpillar leaves its egg home and enters the big outside world! And these little critters have one serious appetite – they actually eat their way out of the egg and immediately start chomping on the leaves of the host plant.
一旦準備好，毛毛蟲離開它的卵家，進入外面的大世界！而這些小動物有一個嚴重的胃口-他們實際上吃出了雞蛋的方式，並立即開始大嚼寄主植物的葉子。
During this stage, they shed their skin four or five times – as the caterpillar grows, its skin becomes too tight and splits open, revealing a new, larger skin underneath.
在這一階段，它們會蛻皮四到五次——隨著毛毛蟲的生長，它的皮膚變得太緊，裂開，露出下面新的、更大的皮膚。
A fully grown caterpillar can be over 100 times larger than when it emerged from its egg. Wow!
一條完全發育成熟的毛蟲可以比它從卵中出來時大100多倍。真 的！
Stage 3: the pupa
第三階段：蛹
Once fully grown, the caterpillar forms itself into a "pupa" (or chrysalis) – a kind of vessel in which the caterpillar changes into a butterfly.
一旦毛毛蟲完全長大，就會形成一個"蛹"（或蛹）——一種毛毛蟲變成蝴蝶的容器。
They usually do this on twigs or safe, hidden areas around the host plant. The "pupa" stage may last a few weeks to several months depending on the species.
它們通常在小枝上或寄主植物周圍安全、隱蔽的地方這樣做。蛹期可能持續幾周到幾個月，這取決於物種。
During this time, a hardened case forms around the pupa to protect it from predators and extreme weather conditions.
在此期間，蛹周圍形成一個堅硬的外殼，以保護它免受捕食者和極端天氣條件的影響。
And inside, the tissue, limbs and organs of the caterpillar transform. The result? A wonderful winged butterfly!
在裡面，毛毛蟲的組織、四肢和器官都會發生變化。結果呢？一隻美麗的翅膀蝴蝶！
Stage 4: the butterfly
第四階段：蝴蝶
Once the butterfly is ready to emerge, the case around the pupa splits open. But it's not time for take off just yet, as the wings are at first wet, soft and wrinkled against its body.
一旦蝴蝶準備好出現，蛹周圍的盒子就會裂開。但現在還不是起飛的時候，因為翅膀剛開始溼了，柔軟，在身體上有皺紋。
The butterfly waits for its wings to dry, and pumps a liquid called hemolymph into them so that they become big and strong.
蝴蝶等待翅膀變幹，然後將一種叫做血淋巴的液體注入翅膀，使翅膀變大變強。
Once fit for flight, this brilliant bug then takes to the air in search for flowers to feed on and for other butterflies to mate with. And that's the cycle complete – and ready to start all over again!
一旦適合飛行，這隻聰明的蟲子就會飛到空中尋找花朵和其他蝴蝶交配。這是一個完整的循環-準備好重新開始！
Did you know…?
Moths also go through this process of metamorphosis. below – the largest moth in the world!
你知道…？
蛾子也會經歷這個蛻變的過程。下面是世界上最大的飛蛾！
閱讀更多 西瓜嘛嘛醬 的文章
