How does a pupa emerge into a butterfly?

The transformation of a pupa into a butterfly has always been a wonder to mankind. At the end of its life cycle, the butterfly cracks open the pupa and come out. But a newly emerged butterfly cannot fly away soon as it comes out. It needs to wait for almost an hour to grow its wings.

During this time, it is extremely vulnerable to predators, since it cannot fly. The pupal wings undergo rapid cell division and absorb many nutrients. Once it has grown wings, a new butterfly flies to a plant, or any other food source, for its first meal. Thus, the life of an adult butterfly begins.