Life Cycle 0f a Butterfly

RequirementsStudents:-Elementary Grades 3rd and 4th -Middle Class-Science class that is learning about butterflies

Environment:-Work individually or in pairs-Needs a computer with sound capabilities, Internet, and Microsoft PowerPoint

Objectives-Given a picture, the students will be able to recognize what stage the butterfly is in with 100% accuracy.-Given a picture of the butterfly life cycle chart, children will be able to identify the cycles from start to end with 100% accuracy.-Given the name of a cycle, children will be able to describe it with 100% accuracy.

Hi! I’m Barry the butterfly and today I’m going to teach you about the cycles of my life! Let’s go!

Here are some instructions on how to navigate through this program!

If you click on this butterfly it will take you to the next screen!

If you click on this butterfly it will take you to the last screen!

__________ The definitions of the underlined words can be found under the vocabulary tab!

If you click this button it will take you to the home screen!

Click on each Picture to Explore Each Cycle!

1. Egg

2. Caterpillar

3. Pupa

4. Adult

• Quiz!

• Vocabulary!• Video!

Click on the Quiz after you review each section!

EggsThis stage happened before I was born!

Lime Butterfly Egg

Eggs

Owl Butterfly Eggs

What are they made of?

The eggs are protected by a hard-ridged outer layer of the shell, calledchorion.

A thin layer of wax coats this. This prevents the egg from drying out.

Each egg contains a number of tiny funnel-shaped openings at one end called microplyes.

Eggs

Monarch Butterfly Egg

Where can you find the eggs?

Butterflies lay their eggs on plants.

Each species of butterfly has its own host plant. Some are restricted to one plant, while others use a variety of different plants.

Eggs

When are they laid?

The egg stage lasts a few weeks!

If the eggs are laid close to winter the go through a diapause (resting) stage and hatching may take place only in the Spring.

Others lay their eggs in the Spring and they hatch in the Summer!

Quick Review of the egg stage!

True or false?

The eggs are protected by a hard outer shell.

Correct!Awesome Job!

The answer is TRUE!

The hard outer shell is called the CHORION!

Get ready fo

r the next

stage!

Incorrect

Remember, the egg needs some kind of protection so it does not get

damaged!

CaterpillarsThis stage happened after my egg hatched!

Swallowtail Caterpillar

Caterpillars

Butterfly larvae, or caterpillars, consume plant leaves and spend most of their time searching for food.

Some larvae communicate with ants using vibrations!

Caterpillars

Caterpillars mature in stages called instars.

Cuticles, which are a tough, but flexible covering, form during the instars stages.

At the end of each instar, the larva molts the old cuticle.

Development of the wing patterns begins by the last larval instar.

Norape Caterpillar

Caterpillars

Structure:

Caterpillars have 3 pairs of true legs and up to 6 pairs of prolegs! Prolegs are used for grips!

Some caterpillars can inflate parts of their head to appear snake-like!

Some have special structures called osmeteria which produce smelly chemicals for defense!

Quick review of the caterpillar stage!

True or False?

Some caterpillars release a smelly chemical for defense.

Correct!Good Job!

The answer is TRUE!

The special structures that release the chemical are called osmeteria!

Get ready fo

r the next

stage!

Incorrect!

Try to think back to how caterpillars protect themselves!

PupaIn this stage I form a cocoon to begin my transformation into a butterfly!

Euptoieta Claudia Pupa

PupaHow does the caterpillar

become a pupa?

The larva transforms into a pupa, or chrysalis by anchoring itself to a surface and molting for the last time.

Danaus Plexippus

Pupa

The pupal transformation into a butterfly is through metamorphosis.

The pupal wings undergo rapid mitosis.

Quick review of the Pupa stage!

True or False?

The pupal transformation does not go through metamorphosis.

Correct!Great Job!

The answer is FALSE!

The pupal transformation does undergo metamorphosis!

Get ready fo

r the next

stage!

Incorrect!

Try to think about the pupal transformation again.

Adult ButterflyThis is the final stage of my life! I’m finally an adult!

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Adult Butterfly

The adult, sexually mature, stage of the insect is known as the imago.

Butterflies had four wings that are covered in tiny scales!

Adult Butterfly

An adult butterfly has six legs.

A butterfly can’t fly until its wings are unfolded.

They need to spend time inflating their wings with blood and letting them dry.

This process can take up to 3 hours!

Quick review of the adult butterfly stage!

True or False?

A butterfly can fly as soon as it emerges from its cocoon.

Correct!Awesome Job!

The answer is FALSE!

It may take up to 3 hours for the butterfly to be able to fly!

Get ready f

or som

e

voca

bulary!

Incorrect!

Remember, butterflies need time for blood to circulate to their wings!

Vocabulary!Chorion- the hard outer layer that protects the egg.Microplyes- funnel-shaped openings at the end of an egg.Host plant- a plant that harbors the egg.Diapause- resting state of the egg during the winter.Caterpillars- the larval form of butterflies or moths.Cuticle- tough, but flexible, non-mineral outer covering of an organism.Molts- shedsProlegs- small fleshy, stub structure used for grip.Osmeteria- a fleshy organ that emits a smelly chemical for defense.Chrysalis- pupal stageMetamorphosis- process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving abrupt change in the animals body structure.Imago- last stage of development.

Ready for the quiz?

Review video first?

Home to review the cycles?

Here’s a fun story that talks about a caterpillar who is trying to find out how she will become a butterfly!

Click here for the QUIZ!

Quiz Time!Now it’s time to

review what we’ve learned!

What stage is B?

A. Pupa

B. Adult

C. Egg

D. Caterpillar

Great Job!

Did you know that caterpillars outgrow their skin several times!

Answer: D. Caterpillar

Not quite...

Remember, the second stage of the life cycle starts with a C…

What is the hard outer layer of the egg called?

A. Chorion

B. Microplyes

C. Diapause

D. Shell

Yes!

Answer: A. Chorion

Did you know that the chorion contains 2 layers? The trophoblast and the mesoderm.

Think again...

Remember, the name of the shell may start with the letter C.

The resting stage of an egg during the winter is called diapause.

A. True

B. False

Awesome! Answer: True

Did you know this happens especially in temperate regions!

Oops!

What stage is this?

A. Adult Butterfly

B. Pupa

C. Egg

D. Caterpillar

Wow! Answer: B. Pupa

Did you know that the pupa becomes increasingly transparent as it progresses!

Think again...

Think about what stage the cocoon is in..

What other insect do caterpillars communicate

with?

A. Worms

B. Spiders

C. Ants

D. Beetles

Great!Answer: C. Ants

Did you know that the ants provide some protection to these larvae!

Oops!

Remember they communicate through vibrations!

How many legs does an adult butterfly have?

A. Four

B. Six

C. Five

D. Eight

Good Job!Answer: B. Six

Did you know that in the nymphalids, the first pair of legs is reduced!

Not quite...

Remember, butterflies have a set number of legs..

The small fleshy stub structure used for grip is the:

A. Diapause

B. Prolegs

C. Chrysalis

D. Cuticle

Awesome!Answer: B. Prolegs

Did you know that prolegs are also called false legs!

Think again...

Think about the structures that caterpillars have by their legs.

What is another word for the last stage of the butterfly life cycle?

A. imago

B. microplyes

C. chorion

D. osmeteria

Way to go!Answer: A. imago

Did you know that butterflies go through hibernation!

Oops, try again

Hint: The alternative word for adult butterfly is similar to the word image!

Thanks for going on this learning adventure with me! You did great! Hope to see you soon!