Question 1

What is a monarch butterfly?

Accepted Answer

A monarch butterfly is a type of butterfly that is famous for its bright orange and black wings. They are known for their long journey, called migration.

Question 2

What does metamorphosis mean?

Accepted Answer

Metamorphosis is a big change that some animals, like butterflies, go through in their life cycle. It includes stages from being an egg to a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and finally turning into a butterfly.

Question 3

How long does a monarch butterfly live?

Accepted Answer

Most monarch butterflies live for about 2 to 6 weeks once they become an adult butterfly. But, the ones that migrate can live up to 8 months!

Question 4

What do monarch caterpillars eat?

Accepted Answer

Monarch caterpillars love eating milkweed leaves. It's the only plant they eat and it keeps them safe from predators.

Question 5

Why do monarch butterflies migrate?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies migrate to find warmer places to live during the winter. They travel to places like Mexico or California because it's too cold where they were born.

Question 6

How far do monarch butterflies travel?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies can travel thousands of miles! Some of them fly more than 2,500 miles during their migration.

Question 7

How do monarchs know where to go?

Accepted Answer

Monarchs use the sun and the earth's magnetic field to guide them. They have special senses that help them know which way to travel.

Question 8

What does a monarch butterfly's chrysalis look like?

Accepted Answer

A monarch butterfly's chrysalis is like a little green pouch where the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. It's often shiny and has tiny gold spots.

Question 9

How do monarch butterflies help the environment?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies help plants grow by moving pollen from flower to flower. This helps many plants and flowers reproduce and make seeds.

Question 10

What is the biggest danger to monarch butterflies?

Accepted Answer

The biggest danger to monarch butterflies is losing their homes because people cut down trees and use too many chemicals. This makes it hard for them to find places to lay eggs and food to eat.

Question 11

Can you help monarch butterflies?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can help by planting milkweed in your garden, which gives them food and a place to lay eggs. You can also learn more about them and tell others how to protect their habitats.

Question 12

Do all monarch butterflies migrate?

Accepted Answer

Not all of them migrate. Only the generation of monarchs born in late summer to early fall make the long journey to warmer places.

Question 13

How do monarch butterflies know when to migrate?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies sense changes in the weather, like when it gets cooler and the days become shorter, reminding them it’s time to go.

Question 14

How long does it take for a monarch caterpillar to become a butterfly?

Accepted Answer

It takes about 10 to 14 days for a monarch caterpillar to change into a butterfly inside the chrysalis.

Question 15

What colors are on a monarch butterfly's wings?

Accepted Answer

Monarch wings are bright orange with black lines and some white spots. These colors warn predators that they don't taste good.

Question 16

How many stages are there in a monarch butterfly's life cycle?

Accepted Answer

There are four stages in a monarch butterfly's life: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.

Question 17

Why are monarchs important to scientists?

Accepted Answer

Scientists study monarchs to learn about migration, climate change, and the health of our environment. Monarchs are like a sign of how nature is doing.

Question 18

Where do monarch butterflies lay their eggs?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The leaves are food for the caterpillars when they hatch.

Question 19

How can you tell a male monarch butterfly from a female?

Accepted Answer

Male monarchs have two black spots on their hind wings and thinner black lines compared to females. Females don't have these spots.

Question 20

What is the scientific name for the monarch butterfly?

Accepted Answer

The scientific name for the monarch butterfly is Danaus plexippus. People mostly just call it the monarch butterfly.

The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly: Migration and Metamorphosis - 20 FAQs Explained Simply