Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Monarch Butterflies by Sofia, Hector, and Angel.

Monarch Butterflies By Sofia, Hector and Angel. 1-. What is the life cycle of Monarch butterflies? Monarch mother laid a few days ago an egg on a milkweed leaf. Then that egg turns into a small larva, then that larva becomes big , then that larva turns into a pupa (a pupa is like a little bag where the metamorphosis continues), then in the pupa the larva develop & then it goes out and became a beautiful butterfly! 2-. What do they eat? Monarch butterfly enjoy the natural juices from fruits like bananas, oranges and especially watermelon, which is a very juicy fruit,Monarch butterflies also drink the nectar from a variety of plants. Nectar is a sweet, sugary liquid produced in plants. Monarch butterflies are also attracted to the nectar from flowers like lilacs and golden rods. 3-. Why do they migrate? Monarch butterflies feel the chill in the air. While we adapt by putting on a sweeter , the situation is much more serious for the monarchs. Temperatures below 55°F make it impossible for them to fly; temperatures below 40°F paralyze them. The monarchs originated in the tropics and can't live for long at temperatures below freezing. So thats why they come to Mexico... Because they search for warm climates. 4-. Principal enemies? The principal enemies of the Monarch Butterflies are Predators such as spiders and ants attack eggs and young larvae feeding on milkweed. 5-. Why are they called Monarch Butterflies? Monarch means King, or Queen so they are like the Queen/king of all the butterflies. 6-. Principal features The monarch needs no camouflage because it is poisonous to predators; in fact, its vivid colors are designed to ward off critters that may want to eat it. The monarch is poisonous because the developing larvae ingest toxins from the milkweed plant as they feed on the leaves. (information: Wikipedia, monarchfacts.pdf & monarchlab) CANADA 1-. What is done by the government to protect these insects? Many government agencies, organizations in Canada are working on projects to conserve monarch habitats and the migration phenomenon. 2-. Route taken The population east of the Rocky Mountains migrates to the sanctuaries of the Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests in the Mexican states of Michoacán and México. The western population overwinters in various sites in central coastal and southern California, United States, notably in Pacific Grove, Santa Cruz, and Grover Beach. 3-. When it begins & ends? The monarch migration usually starts in about April of each year, but can start earlier if the weather turns cold sooner than that & it ends on October. 4-. What is a sanctuary? A Sanctuary is a place where animals can come to live and be protected or the rest of their lives. It’s a safe haven, where they receive the very best care possible. 5-.Sanctuaries in Canada The most famous sanctuary Poin Pelee National Park 407 RR1 Monarch lane, leamington, ON 6-. Main problems during the migration The main problem during the migration is that the weather can change in some other places so if they rest a little bit there and the weather turns cold... The butterflies can die. 7-. Other Animals that migrate African Elephant: It migrates to find food during the wet and drys seasons. American Buffalo: The American Buffalo is the heaviest land animal in North America. American Golden Plover: The American Golden Plover is a medium-sized shorebird. Arctic Tern: A small bird that flies from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back again each year.

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