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How
Long Do Monarchs Live?
Estimating
the Lifespan of a Monarch of the Overwintering Generation
(Answer
Sheet)
Background
During
the summer breeding season, monarchs live for only 2-6 weeks. But the
monarchs that migrate to Mexico in the fall are different: They are born
in late summer, stay alive all winter, and migrate north the following
spring. How long do these monarchs live?
|
Torn,
tattered and faded, this monarch was found in late April in Arkansas
by Jim Edson |
This lesson
should be done in late April. Students will estimate how long monarchs of
the overwintering generation can live. Based on migration reports, in which
people remark about monarchs with torn and faded wings, few monarchs that
overwinter in Mexico seem to live beyond late April.
Try This!
1. Think back to when you came to school last fall. You may have raised
your own monarchs and sent them on their way to Mexico. If your monarchs
are still alive, how old would they be now? The monarchs that over-wintered
in Mexico are now in their final days. Those that are still alive have
been alive for a long, long time!
2. Assume a butterfly emerged as an adult on August 25th. As of the following
April 25th, how long has the butterfly been alive? (Students should grapple
with this question in small groups. Do not distribute chart below until
they've had time to think thought the problem. They probably won't need
the chart!)
3. Here's
one way to think about this math problem. For each month on the chart
below, fill in the number of days (and weeks and months) the butterfly
lived. Then add them all for the total.
|
#
Days |
#
Weeks |
#
Months |
August
25 (emerged) |
|
|
|
September |
|
|
|
October |
|
|
|
November |
|
|
|
December |
|
|
|
January |
|
|
|
February |
|
|
|
March |
|
|
|
April
25 (still alive) |
|
|
|
TOTAL |
____
Days |
____
Weeks |
____
Months |
Education Standards >>
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