Question 1

What is a monarch butterfly?

Accepted Answer

A monarch butterfly is a type of insect with beautiful orange and black wings. They are known for their long migrations to warmer places during the winter.

Question 2

How long does a monarch butterfly live?

Accepted Answer

Most monarch butterflies live for about 2 to 6 weeks. But those that migrate can live up to 8 months so they can make the long journey.

Question 3

Where do monarch butterflies lay their eggs?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The leaves of the milkweed are the only food their caterpillars eat!

Question 4

What comes out of a monarch egg?

Accepted Answer

A tiny caterpillar, also called a larva, comes out of the egg. It starts eating right away to grow big and strong.

Question 5

What do monarch caterpillars do all day?

Accepted Answer

Monarch caterpillars spend most of their time eating milkweed leaves. They need to eat a lot to prepare for their next stage of life.

Question 6

What is a chrysalis?

Accepted Answer

A chrysalis is the special shell where the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. It hangs from a leaf or a branch while the change happens inside.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

It usually takes about 10 to 14 days for the caterpillar to change into a butterfly inside the chrysalis. This process is called metamorphosis.

Question 8

What happens when the butterfly comes out of the chrysalis?

Accepted Answer

When the butterfly comes out, its wings are wet and crumpled. It has to wait for them to dry and stretch out before it can fly.

Question 9

Why do monarch butterflies migrate?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies migrate to find warmer places to live during the winter. It helps them survive when it's too cold where they started.

Question 10

How far can monarch butterflies travel during their migration?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies can travel thousands of miles during their migration. Some fly all the way from Canada to Mexico!

Question 11

What do monarch butterflies eat?

Accepted Answer

Adult monarch butterflies drink nectar from flowers. This sweet liquid gives them the energy they need to fly and lay eggs.

Question 12

Why are monarch butterflies important to nature?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies help pollinate plants when they visit flowers for nectar. They are also part of the food web, providing food for birds and other animals.

Question 13

Are monarch butterflies endangered?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies are not officially endangered, but their numbers are decreasing. This is because of habitat loss and fewer milkweed plants.

Question 14

How can we help save monarch butterflies?

Accepted Answer

We can help by planting milkweed and other flowers they like. It's also important to avoid using too many chemicals in gardens.

Question 15

Can monarch butterflies fly in the rain?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies don't like to fly in the rain because it makes their wings heavy and hard to use. They usually wait for the weather to clear up.

Question 16

Do monarch butterflies have any predators?

Accepted Answer

Yes, birds and some insects eat monarch butterflies. But the toxins from the milkweed they ate as caterpillars make them taste bad to many predators.

Question 17

Why are monarchs orange and black?

Accepted Answer

Their bright colors are a warning sign to predators that they are not tasty and could be poisonous. It's like a stop sign saying 'don't eat me!'

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

There are four stages in the monarch lifecycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. Each stage is an important part of their development.

Question 19

What is special about the monarch butterflies that migrate?

Accepted Answer

The monarchs that migrate are special because they live longer than the others. They make the journey to warmer places and might be the great-grandparents of the next generation of monarchs.

Question 20

What is milkweed and why do monarchs need it?

Accepted Answer

Milkweed is a plant with milky sap that monarch caterpillars eat. It's the only plant the caterpillars can eat, making it very important for their survival.

The Lifecycle of One Species: Monarch Butterflies - 20 FAQs Explained Simply