The Life of a Butterfly

Butterflies live in four phases: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult butterfly. In Phuket, most have a life-span of about one month, living four to five days as an egg, 15 to 20 as a caterpillar, seven to 10 as a chrysalis, and 10 to 15 as an adult. Females lay eggs on or under the leaves and twigs of specific plants, which serve as food for newly hatched caterpillars. After caterpillars reach maturity, they hang from a twig to create a chrysalis. When the butterfly emerges, it feeds on nectar from the flowering plants.

Thailand is home to a variety of butterfly species, ranging from common to extremely rare. Learn more about the butterflies you'll see at the sanctuary and around the island.