The Adult butterfly has but a brief time to carry out its mission.
After two or three weeks, the newly formed butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. It is now an adult.
It's wings are crumbled and small in size. It is unable to fly. The wings harden within a hour or so. The butterfly pumps liquid through the veins of the wings to stretch and expand them to their true size. Otherwise the wings will harden and be deformed.
This time is also when the straw-like butterfly tongue, the proboscis, is fused into one piece from two halves. It is this tube-like tongue which sips nectar from plants.
When it is just about ready to take off, the butterfly secretes waste from its body. It is a fluid called meconium. It is the liquid left over from the metamorphosis process. Now, it is ready to fly.