Do Now:

Name some pollinators that might visit our garden.

• How can we attract some of these pollinators?

• One of the pollinators that we hope to attract is the Monarch Butterfly

Can you think of something that makes the Monarch Butterfly famous?

Some of the plants that attract this butterflyAster

Daucus carota

Syringa vulgaris, common lilac

Goldenrod, Solidago

What is it about flowers that attract the butterflies?

Nectar

• Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants.

• It is produced in glands called nectaries.

• Nectar is an economically important item, how is nectar associated to honey?

Nectaries in flowers (floral nectaries), are usually found at the base of the

flower• Why do you think it

would be advantageous to the plant to place its nectaries at the base of its flowers?

Proboscis, straw like tube used for feeding

But there is one special type of plant that Monarchs search for, and not just

for its nectar• The butterfly is very brightly colored

• Why would bright colors not be a good thing in the wild?

Aposematic

• When would bright colors be advantageous?

How does the Monarch become poisonous?

• Its not born with it!

• What possible source could the poisons come from?

Asclepias sp.

Asclepias syriaca

One of our native species

The Monarchs lay their eggs on species of plants in the genus

Asclepias, milkweeds.• The caterpillars hatch 4 days after

the eggs (pupae) are laid

• The caterpillars start eating the leaves of the milkweed as soon as they hatch. They do this for four weeks.

• The caterpillar has the ability to capture and concentrate the poison found in milkweeds (galitoxin).

• This poison can be either a cardiotoxin or a neurotoxin

Metamorphosis

• The caterpillar encloses itself in a chrysalis made from hardened protein. – Note, this is not the

same as a cocoon.

• After only 10 days the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.

• So far we covered 4 stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle, name them.

• Do you think this blue jay will ever eat another monarch again?

• Most animals are conditioned to avoid foods that made them sick in the past.

The Monarch originates in Mexico

• Why do you think it moves up north every year? (Hint, what is it after?)

Monarchs are also known for migrating like birds do.

• Except they don’t do it in one generation.

• It takes 4 generations of Monarchs

41

2 2

3

3

• Generation 1 starts with the eggs that are laid by the Monarchs that leave Mexico (gen. 4) and reach the southern US

How long would it take the 1st generation to reach maturity (become a butterfly)?

When they do, the continue to migrate north.

• The Monarch moves north as the milkweeds start growing, first in the south, then as the summer continues, farther north.

Asclepias curasavicaThis is a southern species that won’t survive the winters here, but can be grown outdoors in the summer. We could grow it in the green house during the winter time.

• Generation 2 is laid by generation 1 when it reaches the middle states of the U.S.

• Generation 2 then travels north reaching NY and the Northeast by May.

• Generation 3 is born in July – August reaching Canada where they lay the eggs of generation 4.

• Generation 4 is born in September

• Winter approaches, but they can’t survive. Where does generation 4 go?

• Why do we get to see the Monarchs twice a year?

• Gen 4 does not die as fast as the other 3 generations, it lives throughout the winter and starts the cycle again.

4

4

4 4

• Describe what you see

• Millions of Monarchs hibernate in the Oyamel fir forests of Mexico, which are always above freezing.

Branches heavy with butterflies