Does a caterpillar have a three stage cycle?

No, a caterpillar does not have a three-stage life cycle; instead, it is part of the complete metamorphosis of insects, which includes four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (butterfly or moth). The caterpillar represents the larval stage, where it primarily feeds and grows. After this stage, it enters the pupal stage before emerging as an adult.