life cycle of a monarch butterfly

Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly

Second Grade—ScienceKristin SeamanFebruary 19, 2013

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Assessment

Metamorphosis

A butterfly develops through four stages of a cycle called, metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis includes:▪ Egg▪ Larva (caterpillar)▪ Pupa (chrysalis)▪ Adult (butterfly)

Metamorphosis Breakdown

Eggs

A female butterfly lays hundreds of eggs on leaves.

Within a couple of days, the larva inside the eggs begin to squirm.

Larva (Caterpillar)

After the eggs hatch, they will now be larva, or as we usually call them, caterpillars.

This is the stage where the butterflies do all of their growing.

Caterpillars are constantly eating. Once they start growing, they shed

their skin.

Pupa (Chrysalis)

A caterpillar attaches itself to a tree where it begins pupation.

The pupa stage usually lasts 10 to 14 days.

This is where it undergoes the final stage of metamorphosis.

Adult Butterfly

The pupa undergoes its final transformation and a butterfly is slowly forming.

The final stage is accomplished and a butterfly emerges.

An adult monarch feeds on nectar from flowers and reproduces to start the lifecycle over again.

Brief overview of the lifecycle:

EggLarva

(caterpillar)

Adult (butterfl

y)Pupa

METAMORPHOSIS

Identifying the stages of a Monarch Butterfly

See if you can label each stage correctly by clicking here!

Video of a lifecycle

Test Question #1:

How many stages of metamorphosis are there?

a) Sixb) Fourc) Eightd) Three

a) 6-10 daysb) 20-22 daysc) 25-30 daysd) 10-14 days

Test Question #2:

How long does the pupa stage usually last?

a) Pupab) Eggc) Spawnd) Larva

Test Question #3:

Which one is not a stage of metamorphosis?

Correct! Great job!

Incorrect. Try again!

Credits:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/instructor/science2.htm#circle

http://www.klru.org/butterflies/pdf/lesson2.pdf

http://www.klru.org/butterflies/pdf/lesson3.pdf

http://www.klru.org/butterflies/pdf/lesson4.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AUeM8MbaIk

http://www.softschools.com/science/butterfly/life_cycle.jsp