Monarch Butterfly Lifecycle Wooden Puzzle with Image Tray
Monarch butterflies are one of the most beautiful of all butterflies, and are considered the “King” of the butterflies, hence the name “Monarch”. A black spot on the wing distinguishes the male Monarch butterflies from the females. The female has thicker veins. The two antennae and the two palpi gives the butterfly a sense of smell. The straw-like proboscis is the butterfly’s tongue, through which it sucks nectar and water for nourishment. When not in use, the butterfly curls up its proboscis.
Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle, and through four generations in one year. The four generations are actually four different butterflies going through these four stages during one year until it is time to start over again with stage one and generation one. The first three generations, the butterfly only lives for about two to six weeks and then will die after laying its eggs. However the fourth generation is different and migrates to warmer climates and will live for six to eight months until it is time to start the whole process over again. Monarch butterflies are the only insect that migrates to a warmer climate. They migrate for 2 reasons. They cannot withstand freezing weather in the winter and also the larval food plants do not grow in their sites over winter, so the spring generation must fly to places where the plants are plentiful. They fly at speeds ranging between 12 to 25 miles an hour. Similar to the migrating birds, the monarch butterflies use the clear advantage of updrafts of warm air, called “thermals" and glide as they migrate, to preserve the energy required for flapping their wings all through the long voyage.
The process from egg to butterfly is weather dependent. It can take about four weeks in the peak of the summer in warmer climates. The egg takes 5 to 10 days, the larva/caterpillar and pupa/chrysalis each take about 10 to 14 days.
Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle, and through four generations in one year. The four generations are actually four different butterflies going through these four stages during one year until it is time to start over again with stage one and generation one. The first three generations, the butterfly only lives for about two to six weeks and then will die after laying its eggs. However the fourth generation is different and migrates to warmer climates and will live for six to eight months until it is time to start the whole process over again. Monarch butterflies are the only insect that migrates to a warmer climate. They migrate for 2 reasons. They cannot withstand freezing weather in the winter and also the larval food plants do not grow in their sites over winter, so the spring generation must fly to places where the plants are plentiful. They fly at speeds ranging between 12 to 25 miles an hour. Similar to the migrating birds, the monarch butterflies use the clear advantage of updrafts of warm air, called “thermals" and glide as they migrate, to preserve the energy required for flapping their wings all through the long voyage.
Life Cycle:
The process from egg to butterfly is weather dependent. It can take about four weeks in the peak of the summer in warmer climates. The egg takes 5 to 10 days, the larva/caterpillar and pupa/chrysalis each take about 10 to 14 days.