Monarch Butterfly Project

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Monarch Butterfly Project
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Milkweed

• Monarchs butterflies only lay eggs on milkweed
  plants.
• Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed.
• Milkweed is found along roadsides and in fields.
• When you break the leaves off, a white milky
  looking substance runs out.
• There are several types of milkweed.

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Milkweed
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Milkweed flowers at top in clusters pink most
common in Ironton area
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Seedpods appear after flowers die
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Monarch butterflies lay eggs on the underneath
side of the leaf of the milkweed
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In about 3-9 days the egg hatches. The newborn
caterpillar is about 2mm long.
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The caterpillar(larva) continues to grow for 8-20
days
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The caterpillar eats and eats until its about
40-45mm long
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After about 2 weeks, the caterpillar spins a silk
pad and hangs upside down in a J shape.
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The caterpillar then begins to shed its skin and
turns into a chrysalis (pupa).
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The chrysalis (pupa) hangs motionlessly for 6-18
days.
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A butterfly emerges dropping down its wings and
pumping fluid into the wings.
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Male (dots on hind wing)
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Female(no dots on hind wing)
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Caring for your Monarch

• Put fresh milkweed in each day
• Clean container out each day

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Tagging Monarchs
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• The tag is a very small sticker.
• It is applied to the underside of the hind wing.
• Place it on the dorsal cell (mitten shaped).

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Releasing Monarchs
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Building a butterfly habitat
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Outdoor class in the habitat
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