The diagram illustrates the transitions taking place throughout the life of a butterfly species, the Monarch butterfly.
Overall, the species life can be subsumed under four stages, namely egg, larval, pupal, and adult. The eggs that are laid, converting into larvae and then mature butterflies, ultimately mate and lay eggs to carry on the cycle of life.
In the egg and larval stages, the organism exhibits an appearance that is contrary to the winged butterflies. Firstly, the eggs, which are laid after mating, hatch after a duration of 14 days, on the same milkweed leaf that they were laid on, into a larva. After some time, already developed into a caterpillar, the larva attaches itself to a branch-like structure.
After ten days of remaining immobile, a chrysalis is formed, marking the beginning of the pupal stage. Shortly, an adult emerges out of the chrysalis, imminent southwards after it starts completely ressembling a butterfly. Subsequently, after half a year, the butterfly starts migrating in the completely opposite direction, north. Having migrated southwards and northwards, the butterfly ultimately reproduces with a partner to produce an egg, setting in motion the life cycle of the next butterfly generation.