Monarch Butterflies Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas Monitoring the Development of the First Spring Generation Spring, 2002 How Many Eggs Has She Laid So Far? On March 27th, Jim Edson caught this worn-looking monarch in Monticello, Arkansas. Assuming she's flown from Mexico, she already has over 1,100 miles behind her. And she's probably laid many, many eggs on the milkweed she found along the way. Jim took her into his lab to have her lay a few more eggs, and to watch the life cycle. He's offered to share her story with us each week. This information will help us to estimate when the next monarch generation will emerge across the southern tier of states. Remember, thousands and thousands of eggs have been laid there since the monarchs arrived three weeks ago. Instructions: Print this blank life cycle chart, then make your predictions. We'll include news from Arkansas in each week's migration update, and record it on the chart below. Be sure to update your chart and revise your predictions as you learn more each week. Jim Edson's Life Cycle Chart* Estimated Development Time Stage of Life Cycle Date Actual Development Time Egg 3-5 days Female from Mexico lays egg in captivity* 27 March Egg 4 days Larvae 9-14 days Egg hatches, 1st instart larvae emerges 31 March Larvae 14 days . 1st instar molts into 2nd instar . . . 2nd instar molts into 3rd instar 5 April . . 3rd instar molts into 4th instar 9 April . . 4th instar molts into 5th instar 11 April . Chrysalis 8-13 days 5th instar becomes a chrysalis 13 April Larvae 9 days Adult Chrysalis ecloses (The adult butterfly emerges!) 22 April Total 20-32 days     Total 27 days ?and Arkansas's first spring generation is on the wing! Earth Day, April 22 * Note: The lab is maintained at a constant temperature of 21C (70F). National Science Education Standards Science as Inquiry Use data to conduct a reasonable explanation. (K-4) Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms; classifying them; and doing a fair test (experimenting). (K-4) Life Science Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms. (K-4) National Math Standards Numbers and Operations Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates. Problem Solving Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts. Data Analysis and Probability Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.

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