Monarch Butterflies
Warming Up to Fly
How Does Basking Warm a Butterfly?
What
Scientists Think
- Dark colors,
such as brown or black, absorb and store more of the sun's energy than
light colors (white) or medium colors (orange) do. The absorbed solar
energy is changed to heat energy. (That's why you'll feel hotter if
you wear dark colors on a hot sunny day!)
- As a monarch basks in the sun, the dark colors on its wings and thorax absorb solar energy. This is an important adaptation for survival; it enables a monarch to warm up on a cool day! When the muscles in the thorax are warm enough, they can move the legs and wings . . . and the migration continues!
Journaling Question
- How do
you think your findings would have changed if the t-shirts (or other
items) were not placed in the sunlight? Why not try it!? What does this
tell you about weather and fall monach fall migration?
- Each time you observe a monarch this fall ask, "Is it roosting, basking, nectaring, or flying? What do I notice about each of these behaviors? How does the behavior tie in to weather conditions?"
Extension: Basking Photo: Catching the Best Angle! >>
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