Does a butterfly lay eggs or gives birth to a young?

Butterflies and moths lay eggs

* Egg - A butterfly starts its life as an egg. * Larva - The larva (caterpillar) hatches from an egg and eats leaves or flowers almost constantly. The caterpillar molts (loses its old skin) many times as it grows. * Pupa - It turns into a pupa (chrysalis); this is a resting stage. * Adult - A beautiful, flying adult emerges. There is no growth during this stage. This adult will continue the cycle and reproduce. A butterfly does lay eggs on leaves. They then hatch to become a caterpillar who only eats leaves. When the caterpiller hatches it sometimes eats its one shell for its first meal.