JLAB Biology SOL Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The life cycle of a moth includes several distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult moth. This process is known as complete metamorphosis, which is characterized by the drastic changes that occur at each stage.

A butterfly also undergoes complete metamorphosis, making the developmental process of a butterfly very similar to that of a moth. Both species share the same life stages and undergo similar biological changes. In fact, butterflies and moths belong to the same order (Lepidoptera), which highlights their closely related life cycles.

The other options develop differently. Bees and ants, for instance, go through a life cycle known as incomplete metamorphosis but have different stages, including egg, larva, and adult. Dragonflies also undergo incomplete metamorphosis but have a more aquatic nymph stage that differs significantly from the caterpillar stage of moths and butterflies. Thus, the life cycle of a butterfly aligns closely with that of a moth, confirming why this answer is the most accurate.