The lifespan of all butterflies is believed to be short lived once it comes out of the chrysalis. The truth is the lifespan depends on the species. Their adult life can last as short as a week to almost a year. Other factors contribute to their lifespan. They are location, size, climate and the time it becomes full grown. While certain butterflies last longer than others because of those factors it may not live for the whole time because of fear of being eaten by predators. At the same time the location can be beneficial because it can live months after their time. Being a female butterfly helps aid in the lifespan; they live longer than males.
People assume that the lifespan starts when the butterfly is out of the chrysalis. The truth it the lifespan starts when the life cycle begins. That means the time begins when the butterfly is in the caterpillar going into the pupa stages and then breaking out. Another thing that counts toward the lifespan is how many times it flies for migration. Every time the butterflies take flight a generation is born. Every migration flight allows for more generations of butterfly to come take their place.