Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly

What is Monarch Butterfly? The Monarch butterfly is a Milkweed butterfly with a beautiful bright orange and black pattern. They come from the Nymphalidae family. They can be be found in different areas of the world depending on breeding areas, migration routes, and the winter roosts. You can see them here in Hawaii and other places like Canada to Northern South America. They are different in physical size depending if they are migratory or non-migratory butterflies. Most have wingspans ranging from 8.9 to 10.2 centimeters. Before turning into a butterfly the Monarch experience four stages of complete metamorphosis. Just like other organisms they have life cycles. They are born, they grow, they develop into adults, and they reproduce.

Introduction to the life cycle of a butterfly Metamorphosis: is a great change in form from one stage to the next in the life of an animal. The Monarch goes through four stages of metamorphosis during its life cycle. Egg Larva Pupa Adult Video: Monarch Butterfly Life cycle http://education.nationalgeographic.com/activity/monarch-butterfly-life-cycle-and-migration/

Stage one: The Egg This is the first stage of metamorphosis. Butterflies will either lay their eggs one at a time or in clusters, choosing a certain plant to lay their egg. In Hawaii, most eggs can be found on the Crown flower plant (Calotropis gigantea).

Stage Two: The Larva The larva is also known as the caterpillar. After 3-5 days in the egg the larva begins to reveal itself. As soon it hatches from the egg he will begin to eat. Continuing to eat for the next 9-15 days. First eating it’s egg, then the leaf. He grows quickly during this time. Increasing it’s body mass about 2,000x continuing to grow, molt, and shed. Molting is also known as instar, which they instar five times before it pupates. On the 15th day after hatching, the larva begins to pupate. Hanging upside down in a “J” shape.

The Larva Learner.org (2015)

Stage Three: Pupa This is the third stage of metamorphosis. Pupa is also known as Chrysalis. After being fully grown, the caterpillar stops eating and attaches itself to a twig on a leaf. Here in Hawaii, you can find Pupa underneath the leaf of the Crown Flower Plant. Inside the Chrysalis is where the larva transforms. Spending 9-14 days as a pupa.

Stage Four: Adult The fourth and final stage of a butterflies life is called adult. Once the butterfly emerges from the pupa it has to wait for it’s wings to dry. Then Monarch flies off to nectar, mate, or lay a single or multiple eggs. “In the summer, adults live from 2 to 6 weeks in captivity, and probably about that long in the wild. The ones that migrate live longer, from August or September to about April” (Oberhauser, 2015)

What do you know? Learningattheprimarypond.com

Vocabulary: Caterpillar: The larva stage of butterfly/moth. First stage in metamorphosis. Chrysalis: Same as Pupa. Emerge: To break out of an egg, cocoon, or pupa case. Instar: Another term for molting, shedding of skin. Larva: The second stage in the Monarch’s life cycle. Which the insect is wormlike and develops wings. Metamorphosis: A series of developmental changes from immature form to adult form in two or more distinct stages. Molting: Shredding of skin, so the larva can grow. Puddling: An action of crawling on the ground near shallow water. Pupa: Third stage of life cycle. This is when larva turns into adult.

Your Turn Be creative!

Rubric Unacceptable (0-4 points) Acceptable (5-10 points) Target The student will be unable to summarize the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The student can summarize parts of the story. The student can summarize all-important parts of the story. The student could not explain he life cycle of the butterfly by writing 2-3 sentences. The student can explain the lifecycle by writing at least one sentence, which follows their illustration of the four stages of the Monarch life cycle. In chronological order. The student correctly explained the life cycle with the their illustrations in chronological order. The student could not illustrate/create the butterfly cycle using the diagram or creating a digital storybook. The student’s illustrations are accurate and clear. The student writes at least 2-3 sentences in their digital storybook describing the four stages and the butterfly’s behavior accurately. The digital storybook is creative and accurate. Word usage is good. They include key vocabulary in digital storybook. Word usage and sentence structure is understandable.

References Oberhauser, K. (2014). Monarch Butterfly. Retrieved from: http://www.nwf.org./wildlife/wildlife-library/invertebrates/monarch-butterfly.aspx Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheet. (2015). Retrieved from: http://learningattheprimarypond.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Life-Cycles-Unit.032.jpg National Geographic Education. (2014). Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle and Migration. Retrieved from: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/activity/monarch-butterfly-life-cycle-and-migration/ Zoom School [image]. Retrieved from: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/index.shtml