Download 23.-Butterflies-Moths - Walama Restoration Project

Lesson 23. Butterflies & Moths
Class Discussion: What is a butterfly? What is a moth?
A butterfly is a type of insect that in adult form flies during the day, or is diurnal. It has long
thin clubbed antennae and scaled wings that are brightly colored.
A moth does not have long thin clubbed antenna, most are feather like. Moth antennae are
covered with hair-like odor detectors used for locating food and mates. Moths are mostly
nocturnal. Moths have fat abdomens and hairy bodies compared to butterflies.
Class Discussion: What is metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis is the change in butterfly appearance, structure and behavior over its life span.
The Life Cycle of a butterfly has 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult:
1. Egg: Female butterflies lay eggs on a plant which the caterpillar will use as food. Some
species can only use one or two plants, so the butterfly has to be selective to find the right
one. These are known as host plants.
2. Larval stage: the egg hatches and a caterpillar emerges. They are vulnerable to predators
and so some have spines or hairs as defense mechanisms. As a caterpillar grows, it molts,
or sheds its skin four or five times. Each molt is called an instar.
3. Pupa: the larva attaches itself to a stick with a few threads of silk, and when it molts for
the last time, the pupa emerges and its skin begins to harden. A pupa has no eyes,
antennae, mouth, wings or legs and cannot move.
Once hard, the protective shell around the butterfly pupa is called a Chrysalis. In
the chrysalis, the body of the caterpillar changes into soft creamy liquid out of which the
adult butterfly is formed. Some only take a few weeks to change, others take all winter.
Moths usually spin silk cocoons around the pupa or burrow underground for this
metamorphosis.
4. Adult stage is when the chrysalis splits and an adult butterfly emerges with wet crumpled
wings. The butterfly hangs from the branch and waves its wings to dry them. Its
abdomen becomes smaller as fluids expand into the veins of the wings. Adults live a few
days to many months, depending on the species. The average life span is 2 weeks.
Class Discussion: Fender’s Blue Butterfly
Fender’s Blue is an endangered butterfly endemic to upland prairies of the Willamette Valley. It
is not much bigger than a quarter. Males are brilliant blue with black borders on the upper side
of their wings. Females are rusty brown. Both have cream colored undersides with black spots.
Their larvae are small and solid green. Kinkaid’s Lupine is the primary host plant and eggs are
deposited on its leaves in May. The caterpillars enter diapause until the following spring. Their
life cycle takes an entire year. Habitat loss due to agriculture, urbanization and fire suppression
has caused Fender’s Blue to become endangered.
Lesson 23. Butterflies & Moths
Review Questions:
What is the difference between a moth and a butterfly?
What are the life stages of the butterfly?
What is a host plant?
Can you think of other animals besides Fender’s Blue Butterfly that have females and males of
different colors? Which is usually brighter? Why?
Worksheet & Activity: Using the butterfly Life Cycle hand out, complete labeling the stages
and then have students take notes on Fender’s Blue Butterfly, coloring the life cycle handout to
represent a Fender’s Blue. Have students complete the Butterfly Anatomy and Life Cycle
worksheet with a partner. Go outside to observe butterflies if feasible.
Vocab:
Diurnal: active during the day.
Metamorphosis: a complete change.
Host Plant: the plant a butterfly lays its eggs on and that the larvae eat.
Molt: to lose a layer of skin as an organism grows.
Instar: a butterfly’s molt.
Chrysalis: a hard shell encasing the pupa while transformation from larva to adult occurs.
Cocoon: a soft silk covering around the pupa, usually made by moths.
Diapause is an insects 'sleep time' that is different from hibernation because the animals do not
grow during this time.
Endemic: native to only one area / originating and living only there.