Have you heard of metamorphosis, the process through which moths and butterflies develop? It comes from a Greek word meaning “transformation” or “a change in shape.” There are four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. First, eggs are laid on plants by an adult female butterfly. These plants will then become the food for the hatching caterpillars. The next stage is the larva. This is also called a caterpillar. The job of the caterpillar is to eat and eat and eat. As the caterpillar grows, it splits and sheds its skin and sheds the skin about 4 or 5 times. The food it eats at this time is stored and used later when it becomes an adult. When the caterpillar is fully grown and stops eating, it becomes a pupa. The last stage is what most people think of when they think of butterflies. It looks very different from the larva. The adult has long legs and compound eyes. It can also fly by using its large and colorful wings.