Which stage of a butterfly's life cycle occurs directly before a chrysalis forms?

a. larva

b. egg

c. pupa

d. adult

a. larva. The second stage of butterfly's life cycle is the larval stage. Caterpillar emerges from egg then eat the leaf where it was born. The caterpillar needs to eat so it can grow fast. Because their outer skeleton doesn't grow, caterpillar need to molt or shed their skin as they grow.