Download Butterfly Discoveries

Butterfly Discoveries
Group Backpack Program
ACTIVITIES OUTLINE:
1. What Is A Butterfly?
• Location: Any gazebo or sitting area.
• Activity: Students learn about butterfly anatomy.
• Teaching aids: wings, antennae, thorax, abdomen, compound eye lens,
proboscis.
2. The Butterfly Habitat
• Location: outdoors - Butterfly Wall Garden adjacent to North
Conservatory.
• Activity: Teacher and students discuss the concept of a habitat;
butterfly garden plants, and what butterflies need in order to survive.
• Teaching aids: student worksheet.
3. A Butterfly’s Life
• Location: any gazebo or sitting area.
• Activity: Students use their imagination and senses in an outdoor
setting while listening and discussing a story.
• Teaching aids: Where Butterflies Grow, Joanne Ryder.
4. Butterfly Behaviors and Identification
• Locations: Fragrance Garden, Perennial Garden, Butterfly Wall Garden
& Formal Garden Areas
• Activity: Students seek to identify butterflies and note behaviors.
• Teaching aids: Checklist of butterflies and behaviors.
5. Butterfly Tag
• Locations: Open grass areas adjacent to the Fragrance Garden or in
the Gude Garden area.
• Activity: Students play a physical game of tag to learn about predator
and prey relationships.
• Teaching aids: pin flags, flags, habitat game markers.
ACTIVITY 1. – WHAT IS A BUTTERFLY
Location/Activity
Anywhere, suggest gazebos and sitting areas marked on map.
Key Terms:
Lepidoptera
Head
Thorax
Abdomen
Tarsi
Antennae
Proboscis
Compound
Molting
Exoskeleton
Metamorphosis
Nectar
Insect
Chrysalis
Pupa
Instar
Leading questions/discussion:
After finding a quiet location where you can sit, tell your group that we are going
to find out what makes a butterfly a butterfly. Ask for or select a volunteer.
Dress the volunteer up as a butterfly while you discuss each of the butterfly
parts. Pull out parts one at a time and follow script.
Butterflies are insects, and like all insects they are classified as a type of animal
and having three well-defined body parts and six legs. Can you help me name the
three main body parts? (Head, Thorax, and Abdomen) Well this butterfly
(volunteer) already has a head. How about if we pretend your head is a butterfly’s
head? Now I will give you an abdomen (part of body behind thorax) and a thorax
(middle portion of an insect that bears the legs and wings). Let’s pretend you have
eyes like a butterfly. Did you know butterflies have very good eyesight? They
have compound eyes. What do you think compound eyes are? Butterflies have
several lenses (6000 separate lenses) in each eye that help them to see extremely
well. Compound means more than one. Here in the backpack they have given us a
special eyepiece that we can look through to see an example of many lenses
however when the butterfly sees an image it appears as a mosaic-type image - not
the image repeating itself as in this lens. Let’s take a look and compare. Pass
around to all students.
Is there anything else we should attach to the butterfly’s head?(Antennae!) Here
is your antenna. By the way can anyone tell me if this were a moth would the
antennae look the same? (moth antennae would be feathered or in some species
the antennae may look like a long filament but it would not be clubbed as butterfly
antennae are) When a butterfly searches for nectar it uses its antennae to seek
out sweet and tasty nectar. Antennae are also important for balance and seeking a
mate. Nectar is a sugary liquid that plants make inside the flower in order to
attract a pollinator. And pollinators such as butterflies need nectar for food.
What kind of mouth does a butterfly have? Does this butterfly’s mouth look like a
butterfly’s mouth? No way – a butterfly uses a mouthpart called a proboscis. A
proboscis is like a hollow straw that curls up under its head and is extended when
the butterfly uses it to suck up their food. A butterfly’s food includes flower
nectar, sugars from rotting fruit, tree sap, and mineral salts (usually males are
observed imbibing salts from mud puddles, manure or drying wet areas). These
mineral salts are passed on to the female butterfly during mating. Three local
species, Morning Cloak, Question Mark and the Comma are three local butterfly
species that overwinter as adults and depend upon tree sap for food.
Ooops, we have forgotten to attach this butterfly’s legs – how many legs does a
butterfly have? (insects have six legs) Let’s attach your legs. How does a
butterfly use its legs? (to land on a flower) Not only does the butterfly use its
legs to land on a flower, but also on the very bottom of the butterfly’s legs are
special organs called tarsi. Tarsi allow the butterfly to taste with its feet! A
female adult butterfly will use its very good eyesight to find just the right plant
to land on and then, use its tarsi to taste it. If it is the right plant, the female
butterfly will lay her eggs on it.
Does our volunteer look like a butterfly yet? What’s missing?(wings!) That’s right
wings. Butterflies are in the insect order Lepidoptera. Lepidoptera means, “scaled
wing”. It is the scales on their four wings that give butterflies the beautiful
colors that they have. The scales are very tiny, dust-like that under a microscope
would appear as thin, overlapping structures. The scales impart color to the wings.
Some colors are produced by pigments, chiefly melanins, that are either ingested
or else biochemically synthesized. This type of coloration is called Pigmental
Coloration. Other colors, termed Structural Coloration are generated by the
physical configuration of the scales themselves interacting with the light. This is
the case with the iridescence of many tropical species and the metallic blues of
the morpho butterflies.
Do butterflies always look like this? No, of course not. Butterflies have four
stages of development during its lifetime and certain kinds of plants, as we
mentioned previously, are very important so the butterfly can complete its life
cycle. If this were an adult(stage 1) female Painted Lady she would seek to find a
host plant(thistles, daisies/composites, pearly everlasting, hollyhocks, and mallow)
to lay her eggs on. The eggs would hatch into caterpillars(stage2 and the first
instar of a growing caterpillar). An instar is a growing stage betweens molts in an
insects life. As a caterpillar eats the host plant it grows bigger. As it grows it
sheds its skin because a caterpillar has an exoskeleton –all insects have an
exoskeleton. That means their skeleton is on the very outside of its body verses
ours which is on the inside of our body. For example, do we shed our skin when we
grow bigger? No of course not. Our skin stretches, but on a caterpillar when it
grows larger the skeleton cannot stretch, so it falls off and another skeleton is
developed. This is called molting. Finally after several moltings the caterpillar
looks for a place to rest and complete its next stage of development. The
caterpillar will look for a safe place to attach itself to the underside of a leaf or
branch. The caterpillar then spins a strong silk button to hang from. It hangs in a
J-shape head down, before shedding its skin one last time. The caterpillar’s skin
will split along its back and fall off leaving a chrysalis(stage 3, a sheltered state
or stage of growth). The chrysalis stage also known as pupa will harden and remain
mostly inactive for 7-10 days. During this time, close observation would reveal
butterfly structures that are forming inside the chrysalis. After 7-10 days the
adult butterfly emerges(stage 4). The changes that take place in an insect’s life,
from egg, to caterpillar, to an adult is called metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is the
abrupt or striking developmental changes in appearance that take place in an
animal’s life.
Thank you to our volunteer for helping us learn about the parts of a butterfly and
its life cycle today. Remove parts and return to backpack.
Supporting materials and drawings are on the next page.
ACTIVITY 2 - THE BUTTERFLY HABITAT
Location/Activity
Outdoor Wall Butterfly Garden
Each student records answers on the paper provided in the backpack.
Key Terms:
Pollination
Host Plant
Stigma
Nectar Plant
Anther
Ovary
Pollen
Egg
Habitat
Style
Leading questions / discussion:
Before taking a closer look at Brookside Gardens’ outdoor butterfly garden, first
let’s discuss what a habitat is. Can anyone tell me what a habitat is? A habitat is a
place where plants and animals can live successfully. It is the region where a plant
or animal naturally grows or lives, its native environment, where a person or thing
is normally found. Man-made garden habitats are intended to attract butterflies,
birds, bees, small animals, or an array of wildlife. What kind of plants and animals
can you see in a garden? Do you see these at your house? Will you see the same
plants and animals for example, in Florida? Why or why not?
Butterfly gardening is a way to attract local butterflies to your garden. It is a
way to increase habitats for butterflies in a small way. The two basic
requirements for a butterfly garden are: leaves for the caterpillars to eat (called
host plants), and flowers to attract and feed the butterflies (called nectar
plants). The butterflies need the plants to survive. Guess what the butterflies
help the plants do! Butterflies and many other insects pollinate flowers so that
they may set seed and grow again the following year. They depend upon each
other.
Pollination occurs when tiny pollen (mass of microspores from a seed plant) grains
from the male flower part (anther) are transferred to the female flower part
(stigma). When a butterfly visits a particular flower to drink nectar, pollen from
the male anthers is brushed onto the butterfly’s proboscis and head. Then when
the butterfly visits another flower of the same kind, the pollen may drop off or
get brushed onto the female flower part (stigma). The pollen then travels down
the stigma, through the style(a portion of the pistil connecting the stigma and the
ovary), and into the ovary (the part of the pistil which contains the ovules) where
it fertilizes an egg (ovule; a small egg). A fertilized egg develops into a seed.
What other pollinators can you think of? Bees, wasps, beetles, flies, birds, and the
wind, all help pollinate flowers.
Remember this is a man-made butterfly garden. That means the Brookside
Gardens staff has planted and created this garden with the knowledge of what
butterflies need in order to survive in their natural habitats. Butterflies and
other pollinators are attracted to the shape, smell, and color of a flower. As
butterflies search (for the sweetest-smelling and sweetest nectar) they are most
attracted to purple, blue, orange, yellow, pink and white flowers. Some butterflies
like red flowers. A flower’s shape is very important to a butterfly because
butterflies like to land first before they drink nectar from flowers. Flat daisylike flowers and clusters of small tubular shaped flowers are very favorable to
butterflies because they can land and perch on them successfully. Host plants
provide the leaves that caterpillars will eat. Butterfly species are very particular
about where and what plant they will lay their eggs on. Remember these are called
host plants in a butterfly garden. All host plants are also nectar plants but not all
nectar plants are host plants. In order to survive butterflies also need warmth,
nutrients, and shelter. Now let’s use our exploration and observation skills in the
garden.
For 2nd graders and up use the worksheet provided in the back pack. Younger
groups may prefer to go on a scavenger hunt with the leader to find the items
listed below:
1. Three flat topped flowers – what is the plant’s name?
2. Three clusters of tubular-shaped flowers – what is the plant’s name?
3. Three host plants – what is the plant’s name?
4. A mud puddle which supplies extra mineral nutrients that butterflies need.
5. Tall plants that protect butterflies from wind and cold.
6. A woodpile for shelter and over wintering adults.
7. Rocks or flat stones where butterflies can warm their bodies and wings.
8. A nectaring butterfly!
9. A hungry caterpillar!
10. A pollinator besides a butterfly.
A question to ponder; do we depend upon the earth to survive? See if your group
can come up with answers such as water to drink, air to breath, soil for farming,
space to live. We are dependent on the Earth in providing us with natural
resources. And we as human beings are keepers of our Earth. It is important for
us all to help protect habitats.
NAME__________________________________
ACTIVITY 2 – WORKSHEET -THE BUTTERFLY HABITAT
Student’s Challenge: Pretend you are a Lepidopterist (a person who studies
butterflies) and are checking Brookside Gardens’ butterfly garden to make
sure it has the right kinds of food, water, shelter and necessary elements so
that butterflies can survive here. As you explore the garden, look for the
following and record your observations here:
A) Flowers for nectaring. Look for three of each shape. What is the plant’s
common name?
Flat-topped:
Tubular-shaped clusters:
1
2
3
Why are these flower shapes important for butterflies?
B) Caterpillar host plants. A plant on which a female butterfly lays her eggs.
Name three plants.
1
2
3
C) Puddling spot. What is it and why is it important?
_____________________________________________________________
D) Shelter from wind and rain. Name one that the garden has. Why is it important
for butterflies?
E) Basking Rocks. How do rocks benefit the habitat?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY 3 – A BUTTERFLY’S LIFE
Location
Fragrance Garden Gazebo – this activity would be a nice follow–up after Activity 1,
What Is A Butterfly.
Read the book, Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder.
Key Terms:
Metamorphosis
Osmeterium
Prolegs
Phenomenal
Pupates
Chrysalis
Crochets
Spiracles
Segments
Activity/leading questions/discussion:
After seating children, tell them we are going to use our senses to imagine what a
growing butterfly’s life is like. Listen and look carefully at each page because at
the end of the story we will play a game to learn what kinds of fun facts and
information we saw and heard from the story. Close your eyes and imagine you are
a caterpillar about to hatch from an egg (children will open eyes at the end of the
second page). The name of the book is, Where Butterflies Grow, by Joanne Ryder,
pictures by Lynne Cherry.
Discussion questions are on the next page. For fun the group leader can toss the
butterfly ball to an individual for the answer to each discussion question or to act
out (role play) a caterpillar or butterfly action. Child can toss ball to another
person for the next question.
Discussion topics: (ANSWERS ARE UNDERLINED IN PARENTHESES)
1. Can you name the stages of a butterfly’s life? What is it called when a butterfly changes
from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to adult? (Metamorphosis) Phenomenal (extrodinary;
remarkable; known through the senses rather than thought or intuition) changes take
place as the butterfly develops inside the chrysalis.
2. What does a caterpillar do most of the time? How does it grow bigger? (eats host plant
leaves and expels fras, grows bigger and sheds its skin/exoskeleton which is called
molting)
3. Some caterpillars have horns. What are they for? Do you know what the scientific name
is for a caterpillar’s horns? (Osmeterium - a protrusible forked gland that emits a
disagreeable odor especially to birds and other predators – borne on the first thoracic
segment of the larvae of many swallowtails and related butterflies)
4. When a caterpillar has had enough to eat, what does it do next? (finds a sheltered place,
spins a silken tab to attach itself, and pupates - undergoes internal changes to pass
through a life stage into a chrysalis – a pupa of a butterfly).
5. After the butterfly emerges can it fly right away? (No, the wings must first dry and
harden)
6. Can you name the parts of a caterpillar?
a) Head – covered by a shiny capsule and contains six small simple eyes, three on each
side of caterpillars body. Butterflies have excellent eye-sight but the caterpillar
can only distinguish between light and dark. Caterpillar eyes are simple called ocelli.
A chewing mouth part is located on the underside of the head. Jaws do not move up
and down like ours but rather back and forth from the sides of the head toward
the middle.
b) Segments – 13 of these form the caterpillar’s body. The first three segments
contain 3-pairs of true legs. They will form the adult butterfly’s thorax. 5
segments towards the rear of the caterpillar contain false legs known as prolegs.
The prolegs will disappear during development and form the butterfly’s abdomen.
c) Prolegs – false legs which act as suction cups as the caterpillar moves.
d) Crochets -Across the bottom of prolegs are rings of microscopic small bristles
shaped like crochet hooks.
e) Bristles – cover the body on some butterflies reflecting light so that the
caterpillar is less visible to birds. Bristles also make it more difficult for birds to
swallow.
f) Spiracles – are breathing holes on each side of the caterpillar’s body. They appear
as light colored rings with dark centers.
ACTIVITY 4 – BUTTERFLY BEHAVIORS AND
IDENTIFICATION
Location/Activity
See map for the location of the following “Hot spots” for watching butterflies:
Fragrance Garden
Perennial and Formal Gardens
Butterfly Wall Garden
Trial Garden area
Teacher or group leader passes out the color butterfly and behavior checklist to
each student (provided in the backpack). Descriptions of some behaviors and nine
common/local butterflies are pictured. With your group, look for butterflies and
behaviors throughout Brookside Gardens’ butterfly “hotspot areas” listed above.
Additional guide-books are provided in the backpack if you see a butterfly (or
caterpillar) not shown on the checklist. Add your observation to the entry journal
if it is not on our checklist.
Leading questions/discussion:
Some inquiry-based questions you may want to start off with are:
In addition to the “Wings of Fancy” butterfly exhibit, where else might we see
butterflies at Brookside Gardens? (near flowering plants)
Will we see butterflies in shady areas? (Not very many – most spp. prefer sunny
areas and usually do not fly unless the sun is out)
What are some of the butterfly’s characteristics that will help us to identify it?
(shape of wings, pattern of veins on wings, wing coloration, size, flight pattern)
Encourage your group to pretend to be Lepidopterists - people who study and
identify butterflies. Tell your group, “when you see a butterfly, we will all stop to
observe its behavior, coloration, and flight pattern”. Then we will try and match it
to a butterfly on our checklist or we can look it up in the field guide that is
provided in our backpack.
ACTIVITY 5 – BUTTERFLY TAG
Location:
Open grass area – see green color highlighted on map
Game Pieces:
Marking pin flags for nest and habitats
Red and yellow flags for players – two allocated for each person
Laminated signs –bird nest, zinnia, milkweed, butterfly bush
Activity Set Up
This is simple to set-up and fun for the children to play and get exercise. Use the
pin flags from the pack to set up 7, approximately 6’ diameter circles (three on
each side of a middle circle – see diagram). Use the labels to mark each of the
circles as follows: The center circle is called the bird’s nest and the surrounding
circles are three different habitats/flowers (two of each kind, zinnia, butterfly
bush, milkweed). Place the labels opposite of each other on the field.
Discussion
Tell children in this game you will learn about how plants, pollinators, and
predators interact with each other. The object of the game is for the birds to
catch a non-protected butterfly or caterpillar. Many plant species depend upon
and require animals to move their pollen around. If a plant population does not
receive pollen from another population it will eventually go extinct. Ask the
students if they know what extinct means. Then ask them if they can name some
species that are extinct. To encourage an animal to move around, the plant offers
the animal food. Butterflies are some of the most common pollinators. However,
butterflies are often eaten by predators like birds. In this game some of you
(80% of group) are going to be butterflies (marked by a single yellow
“football flag”) “pollinating plants” and some of you (20% of group) are going
to be birds (marked by red “football flags”) trying to “eat” the butterflies.
Notes/rules – turn page over.
Notes/rules:
1. Zone in center of the field is bird’s nest – make a circle with pin flags and
mark with the laminated sign “Bird’s Nest” from the backpack.
2. The other zones scattered around field are the butterfly habitats; they
contain plants that need to be pollinated by butterflies and plants that the
butterflies need to complete their life cycle. Make circles with pin flags and
mark with laminated signs, “Zinnia”, “Butterfly Bush”, and “Milkweed”
habitats.
3. At the beginning of the game all butterflies must be in a butterfly habitat.
When the game begins each butterfly must leave the habitat they are in and
run to a new one. This represents pollination.
4. The birds must leave their nest and try to tag (by pulling a flag off) a
butterfly, representing predation. The turn ends when every butterfly has
either been tagged or is in a new habitat.
5. At the end of the turn any butterfly that has been tagged becomes a bird
(make sure all new birds receive red flags). Any bird that did not tag a
butterfly, starved to death and becomes a butterfly (make sure all new
butterflies receive yellow flag).
6. If there is a habitat that does not have a butterfly in it, the population
has gone extinct (because it did not receive any pollen) and it is
removed.
Game Length
1. The game ends when either all the children are birds. In this case the birds
consumed all their prey and experienced mass starvation;
2. All the children are butterflies. The birds are not very good at catching
butterflies and starved to death.
3. Only one butterfly habitat is left. So many plant populations went extinct
that both the butterflies and the birds become extinct as well.
4. Time allotted for the game runs out. In this case, we have a perfectly
balanced, healthy ecosystem.
Game Options
1. Let children wear another football flag from the ziplock bag that says
“butterfly defenses”. Have each butterfly wear two flags instead of one. If the
bird pulls off the flag marked with a particular “butterfly protection” the
butterfly continues to live for another turn. If it’s unmarked, second flag was
pulled first, it deceases and becomes a bird.