Each butterfly goes through a similar life cycle. After mating, the female finds the appropriate host plant and lays her eggs. Some lay their eggs one at a time on different leaves. Others lay a mass of eggs on one or two plants.

Larvae hatch from the eggs and go through several instars before forming chrysalides.

If eggs are laid in a mass the larvae also eat together in mass for a period of time before going off to form individual chrysalides.

The adult butterfly develops inside the chrysalis and then emerges. Food of adults also varies by species. Some drink nectar; others drink fruit juices.