Is feithid speisialta é an féileacán. Bíonn féileacáin ag eitilt timpeall na mbláthanna i rith an tsamhraidh. Tá cuid acu bán agus tá cuid acu ildaite. Ní mhaireann siad ach tamall beag. Tá céimeanna difriúla i saol an fhéileacáin agus tugaimid ‘saolré’ air sin.
Ar dtús, fágann an féileacán fásta uibheacha ar dhuilleoga nó ar an bhféar. Bíonn na huibheacha an-bheag agus deacair a fheiceáil. Tar éis cúpla lá, tagann bolb amach as an ubh. Tá dath glas ar an mbolb agus tá spotaí oráiste air. Tosaíonn an bolb ag ithe na nduilleog – rud nach maith leis na feirmeoirí!
Timpeall coicís tar éis sin, bíonn an bolb réidh le hathrú arís. Cuireann an bolb cochall síoda timpeall air féin. I rith an ama seo, bíonn an bolb ag athrú ina chrisilid.
Timpeall coicís tar éis sin arís, osclaíonn an chrisilid agus tagann an féileacán amach. Caithfidh na sciatháin triomú ar dtús agus ansin bíonn an féileacán réidh le heitilt. Ní mhaireann sé ach mí nó mar sin, agus ansin faigheann sé bás. Sin saolré an fhéileacáin duit, saolré atá gairid agus casta ach spéisiúil freisin!~
The butterfly is a special insect. Butterflies fly around the flowers during the summer. Some are white and some are colorful. They only last a little while. There are different stages in a butterfly’s life and we call that a ‘life cycle’.
First, the adult butterfly lays eggs on leaves or grass. The eggs are very small and difficult to see. After a few days, a caterpillar emerges from the egg. The caterpillar is green in color with orange spots. The caterpillar starts eating the leaves – which the farmers don’t like!
About two weeks later, the caterpillar is ready to molt again. The caterpillar puts a silk hood around itself. During this time, the caterpillar is changing into a chrysalis.
About two weeks later again, the chrysalis opens and the butterfly emerges. The wings have to dry first and then the butterfly is ready to fly. It only lasts a month or so, and then it dies. That’s the butterfly’s life cycle for you, a life cycle that is short and complicated but also interesting!
source text: Saolré an Fhéileacáin – cea