Butterfl Ies and Moths: Teacher's Guide Classroom Activities
Butterfl Ies and Moths: Teacher's Guide Classroom Activities
Teacher’s Guide
Classroom Activities
352-846-2000
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu
Teacher’s Guide
LEARNING GOALS: Activities are designed to integrate science, language arts, math and social
studies. At the conclusion of the museum program, kindergarten through 2nd grade students
should
page topic
1 Teacher Information
6 Words to Know
7 What is an Insect?
Lesson One (ages primary and intermediate)
Figure 1, Figure 2
10 Butterflies and Us
Lesson Two (ages primary and intermediate)
Figure 3, Activity Sheet 1
14 Butterfly Anatomy: Candy Butterflies
Lesson Three (ages primary and intermediate)
17 Butterfly vs. Moth: Do you see the difference?
Lesson Four (ages primary and intermediate)
Figure 4, Activity Sheet 2
20 Butterfly vs. Moth: Antennae Activity
Lesson Five (ages primary)
Figure 5
22 Butterfly vs. Moth: Wings to Wear
Lesson Five extension (ages primary and intermediate)
Figures 6.1 - 6.6
31 Butterfly vs. Moth Review
Lesson Six (ages primary and intermediate)
Activity Sheet 3
32 Life Cycle: Introduction
Lesson Seven (ages primary and intermediate)
Figure 7
34 Life Cycle: Metamorphosis mobile
Lesson Eight (ages primary)
Figures 8.1 - 8.4
39 Life Cycle: Metamorphosis Diagram
Lesson Eight extension (ages primary and intermediate)
Activity Sheet 4
40 Life Cycle: Metamorphosis Activity
Lesson Nine (ages primary)
41 Food and Finding It
Lesson Ten Activity (ages primary)
43 Mating: Following a Scent Trail
Lesson Eleven Activity (ages primary and intermediate)
44 Mating: Locating a Host Plant
Lesson Twelve Activity (ages primary, intermediate, and advanced)
46 Predator Avoidance: Camouflage
Lesson Thirteen Activity (ages primary and intermediate)
48 Additional Resources
Teacher Information
Butterflies and moths are second only to beetles as the largest group of animals in the world.
Even with the 165,000 species of butterflies and moths that have been described, there
are still an estimated 100,000 species that have not. Butterflies and moths are insects that
scientists call Lepidoptera, meaning, “scale winged” in Greek. They get this name from
the tiny scales covering their wings and body. Like all insects, Lepidoptera have a hard outer
covering called an exoskeleton, which is divided into sections and has joints so the animal
can move. Also like other insects, moths and butterflies have six legs, a head, a thorax, and
an abdomen.
Fun Fact: There are 125 Lepidoptera families and about 12 times as many moths as
butterflies − approximately 240,000 moths and 20,000 butterflies.
Anatomy
Butterflies and moths have three major body sections, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
On the head are two compound eyes, a proboscis, and the points of attachments for two
antennae.
Eyes: Lepidoptera eyes have hundreds of lenses, each focusing on a narrow area
of the surrounding environment. This is known as a compound eye.
Proboscis: The proboscis is a long straw-like tube that unrolls from the head when the
butterfly needs to take either food or water for its liquid diet.
Antennae: Antennae extend out of the dorsal side of the head, from between the
eyes. These organs act as the insect’s nose and aid in finding food, mating,
and balancing during flight.
The thorax is divided into three segments, each with a pair of legs. The four wings of a
butterfly or moth are also attached to the thorax which houses the muscles needed for
making these wings and legs move.
The abdomen is composed of ten segments and contains the majority of the insect’s
organs such as the heart, breathing pores or spiracles, most of the digestive system, and
reproductive organs.
Forewing
Thorax
Head
Antennae
Compound eye
Proboscis
Legs
Hindwing
Abdomen
Butterfly or Moth
There are three major differences between butterflies and moths;
1) Butterflies are often more colorful than moths because butterflies are active during
the day. Moths, active at night, have earthy colors to camouflage them while they
sleep during the day.
2) Most butterflies have club-shaped antennae while a moth’s antennae are feather-
like or taper to a point.
3) Moths have a thicker coating of scales than butterflies, gving them a furry
appearance. This differs from butterflies because moths fly at night and are not
usually active during the day when the sun would warm their bodies.
Butterflies and moths rely on different senses to help them find food. Because butterflies
are active during the day, color plays an important role in survival. Brightly colored flowers
advertise food sources. However, moths are usually only active at night and cannot rely
on visible color to help them find food. Instead, moths rely on smell. Moths’ feather-like
antennae have greater surface area than the club-shaped antennae of butterflies. This
allows them to detect scents. Moths are often attracted to night-blooming flowers with
strong smells.
Mating
For butterflies, bright display colors are important in mating rituals and courtship displays.
Male butterflies are often much brighter than females because they use their colors to
attract the attention of potential female mates. Since finding a mate at night or in dimly
lit forests can be troublesome, female moths and some species of butterflies produce large
amounts of pheromones, a kind of chemical perfume. Using their antennae, males can
detect the pheromones of potential mates from great distances.
If the courtship display of the male is successful, the female will alight on a leaf or the
ground and let the most aggressive or most colorful male mate with her. After mating, a
female carefully searches for the correct food plant for eggs and future larvae. Because
each species of butterfly or moth is adapted to eat specific species of plants, females are
very selective about where they lay their eggs. These plants are called “host plants.” The
female butterfly instinctively recognizes the correct leaf shape, color, odor, taste, and
appearance of this host plant. Once satisfied, she lays her eggs, coating them with an
adhesive that fastens them to the leaf.
Life Cycle
There are 4 life cycle stages for all butterflies and moths: egg, larva (or caterpillar), pupa,
and adult. This cycle is called complete metamorphosis.
The first stage of an insect’s life is an egg. When the egg hatches the young butterfly or
moth is called a caterpillar or larva. A caterpillar spends most of its time feeding on plants
and growing very quickly. When it has reached its full size, the caterpillar stops feeding and
becomes a pupa. A moth pupa transforms inside a cocoon and a butterfly pupa transforms
inside a chrysalis. During this immobile, but metabolically active stage, the butterfly or
moth makes its transformation from wingless larva to winged adult.
Predator Avoidance
Some animals (for example, birds, bats, spiders, dragonflies, and mice) rely heavily on
Lepidoptera for food. Butterflies and moths have evolved several ways to avoid being eaten.
These include:
Warning coloration- a bold pattern and bright contrasting colors. Bright warning coloration,
especially yellow-and-black, orange, or red, warn birds and other predators that such insects
may bite, sting, or taste bad.
Camouflage- Moths and many butterflies, particularly females, have earth-tone colors or
patterns that resemble tree bark, lichens, or leaves. This “cryptic coloration” allows them to
avoid predators by blending into their surroundings.
Mimicry- Some butterflies and moths deter predators by mimicking the color pattern of other
less edible species or other insects, plants, and animals.
1) Batesian Mimicry
Some harmless Lepidoptera species mimic the appearance of other species that are
poisonous or distasteful. They “pretend” to be poisonous and predators avoid them.
2) Mullerian Mimicry
Sometimes two species look alike and both are poisonous or distasteful. When a
predator attacks one of the two, it remembers the color pattern and is unlikely to
attack either, avoiding insects with that color pattern.
Defense patterns- Alarm Patterns: Eyespots on wings intimidate predators, especially small
birds, who think they see the eye of a larger bird that might harm them.
Habitat
Butterflies and moths can be found all over the world. However, the world’s greatest
diversity of butterflies and moths can be found in tropical rainforests. This means that there
are a great number of different species in areas close to the equator.
Tropical rainforests are home to such diversity for several reasons. The first is that over
the past 100 million years, lands near the equator remained fairly undisturbed by sea level
change, climate change, or glaciation. This allowed many different animals and plants to
evolve over long periods of time. Because there are no seasons along the equator, only
constant high temperatures, lots of humidity and rainfall, and intense sunlight, conditions
are perfect for the growth of thousands of plant species. Diverse rainforest plants provide
highly varied resources for animal life, and have evolved into thousands of species.
Butterfly and moth species live at specific heights in the rainforest. In a typical rainforest
there are at least 4 layers or strata:
Most Lepidoptera species rarely leave a familiar environment. Some live hundreds of feet
high in the rainforest canopy, while others fly close to the ground or rest in leaf litter. Each
is adapted to a certain temperature, humidity, and light range, and stays at its favorite
strata.
Materials:
Picture of beetles (Figure 1)
Picture of human skeleton (Figure 2)
Suggested approach:
Ask the children “What is an insect?” Listen to their responses. Explain to them that insects
have several major characteristics:
Part 1
Insects do not have an internal skeleton but instead have a hard outer covering called an
exoskeleton. This exoskeleton is made up of a series of overlapping segments, allowing
flexible motion.
Show the children a picture of a skeleton (see attached sheet). Explain to them that people
have bones like this inside of them and that all these bones make up a skeleton. Our
skeleton is important because it supports our body and anchors our muscles. Without it
we could not stand or move. We would just be a pile of mush. Insects are not like people.
They do not have bones. Their skeleton is on the outside of their body. This hard shell is
called an exoskeleton. Have the children say the word “exoskeleton.”
Show the children a picture of a beetle (see attached sheet). See the exoskeleton? This
hard shell helps protect the insect’s body and organs. Think of a football helmet or a bicycle
helmet. These helmets work like an exoskeleton because they protect what’s inside.
Part 2
Insects are in a group of animals called arthropods. The word arthropod is a Greek word
that means “jointed feet.” Insects also have six jointed legs. People have joints too. A
joint is the place where two bones come together. Bend your arm at the elbow. Now point
to your elbow. This is a joint. Joints allow your body to bend and move. Can you think of
another joint? Your knee is another joint. People have joints in their legs just like insects.
exoskeleton
external skeleton
endoskeleton
internal skeleton
Objective: Students are able to describe Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) anatomy and
relate it to our own anatomy
Materials:
4 kaleidoscopes
labeled butterfly illustration (Figure 3)
copies of the butterfly anatomy activity sheet (Activity Sheet 1)
Suggested approach:
Begin a discussion of butterflies and moths. Ask your students to give you examples of
insects. Explain that butterflies and moths are both insects that belong to the same group or
order of insects. This order is called Lepidoptera. Like other insects, butterflies and moths
have three major body sections, a head, a thorax, and an abdomen.
Ask the children if they have those three body sections. Tell them that they have all of
them. Have the children put their hands on their heads. What do we have on our heads?
Have the children point to their eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and hair.
What do butterflies and moths have on their heads? Show them a picture of a butterfly
labeled (see attached page).
Butterflies and moths have two eyes. People have two eyes too but each of our eyes only
has one lens. This means we only see one picture. Butterflies and moths have hundreds of
lenses on each eye. This means that they see lots of little images. This kind of eye is called
a compound eye. Pass around the kaleidoscopes and have the children look through them.
Tell them this is how a butterfly sees the world.
Fun Fact: Though the ability to see detail is very poor compared to humans, butterflies are
capable of seeing a greater range in the color spectrum from ultra-violet through all visible
light to infrared wavelengths.
Butterflies and moths have two antennae between their eyes. Point to the antennae on
the picture. They use their antennae to feel and smell. What do we use to feel and smell?
Insects do not have hands and noses like we do, so they use their antennae.
Point to your mouth. Butterflies and moths have a different kind of mouth. Their mouth is
called a proboscis. The proboscis is a long straw-like tube that unrolls from the head when
the butterfly needs to take either food or water for its liquid diet.
Where do you think our thorax is? Have the children put their hands on their chest. This is
our thorax. What is attached to a butterfly’s or a moth’s thorax?
Point to the legs. Butterflies and moths have six legs.
Point to the wings on the picture. Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera) have four wings. The
top two are called the forewings and the bottom two are called the hind wings. Each wing is
covered in thousands of colorful scales. The colors and patterns on their wings are always
symmetrical. This means that each wing is a mirror image of the other. Hold out your hands
with your palms up. Now look at your hands side by side. Your hands are symmetrical.
Place the palms of your hands together. See how your fingers line up perfectly together.
This is how butterfly wings line up when they come together.
Where do you think your abdomen is? Have the children hold their stomach below their belly
button. This is your abdomen. An insect’s abdomen is usually long. Just like our abdomen
a butterfly’s abdomen contains the stomach, helps produce baby butterflies, and gets rid of
waste.
Have the children read and fill out the diagram of a butterfly’s anatomy (Activity Sheet 1) on
the following page.
Forewing - The fore wings are the two upper Thorax - The thorax is the body section
wings. between the head and the abdomen. The legs
and wings attach to the thorax.
Hindwing - The hind wings are the two lower
wings.
Objectives: Children will make butterflies to help them understand the anatomy of a
butterfly.
Note: Make sure to buy a little extra in case pieces get dropped on the ground or broken.
Before Class
1. Buy enough candy and supplies for each child in your class to have the materials listed
above.
2. Place the appropriate amount of candy on a paper plate and make one for each child in
the class.
3. Place one half container of vanilla frosting at every workstation (the children will use
this to “glue” body parts together).
5. Write a key on the board or place a printout of it at each desk as to what piece of candy
represents what butterfly body part.
During Class
2. Review the three main body sections (head, thorax, and abdomen) and their components
(See following page for review sheet and key).
3. Tell the class that everyone is going to build their own butterfly out of candy but they
have to make sure not to eat the pieces until everyone is finished.
1. Put the head (gumdrop) on the end of one of the tooth picks.
2. Slide the thorax (large marshmallow) on the tooth pick just below the head.
4. Attach the two wings (pretzels) by pushing the bottom of the pretzel into the topsides of
the thorax (large marshmallow).
5. Attach the legs (black shoelace licorice) by pushing them into the bottom sides of the
thorax.
6. Insert two antennae (toothpicks) close together into the very top of the head.
8. Stick the end of the proboscis into the bottom front of the head.
9. Dip the eyes (mini M&Ms) in the frosting and attach them to the head right beside the
antennae.
The head (gumdrop) is has two compound eyes, a proboscis, and two antennae.
The thorax (large marshmallow) is divided into three segments, each with a pair of legs.
The four wings of a butterfly or moth are also attached to the thorax which houses the
muscles needed for making the wings and legs move.
The abdomen (candy fruit slices) is long and contains the majority of the butterfly’s
organs such as the heart, breathing pores or spiracles, most of the digestive system, and
reproductive organs.
Materials:
Picture of butterfly and a moth (Figure 4)
Butterfly vs. Moth activity sheet (Activity Sheet 2)
Suggested Approach:
Show your class a picture of a butterfly and a moth (Figure 4). Say to them: “Do you see any
differences between the two?” Tell your class, “There are three major differences between
moths and butterflies.”
1) Butterflies are often more colorful than moths because butterflies are active during
the day. Moths are active at night and have earthy colors to camouflage them while
they sleep during the day.
2) Most butterflies have club-shaped antennae or antennae with knobs on the end while
a moth’s antennae are feather-like or taper to a point.
3) Moths have a thicker coating of scales than butterflies, giving them a furry
appearance. These heavy scales help keep them from losing heat during the night
when they are most active.
Have the children complete Activity Sheet 2 on the following page to see if they know the
differences between butterflies and moths.
Objective: Students review the differences beween moth and butterfly anatomy
Materials:
Picture of butterfly and moth antennae (Figure 5)
Aluminium foil
Different colors of pipe cleaners Scissors
Clear tape Drawing paper
Markers and/or crayons
Suggested Approach:
Ask your class if they remember where the antennae are located on the butterfly or moth.
Tell them that antennae are located on the head. Ask the students if they remember the
difference between butterfly and moth antennae. Hold up the picture of butterfly and
moth antennae (Figure 5). Butterfly antennae are long and thin with a little knob at the
end. That is why they are called club-shaped antennae. Moth antennae are usually thick
and feathery. Smell is especially important to moths because they fly at night and need
some extra help to find food and mates. The extra hairs on moth antennae provide a greater
surface area on which to pick up scents.
Tell the class that they are going to make their own antennae.
1. Pass out drawing paper, marker and/or crayons, scissors, pipe cleaners, tape and two
long (3”x12”) pieces of aluminum foil to each child.
For Both
5. Wrap the bare end of the pipe cleaner around the aluminum headband and wear!
Butterfly
Moth
Activity Extension
Suggested Approach:
Ask your class if they remember two other differences between butterflies and moths. Write
the differences on the board. Most butterflies have very brightly colored wings while most
moths have dull, earthy colored wings. Most butterflies have long, narrow, and smooth
bodies while most moths have short, fat, and furry looking bodies.
1. Give each child two copies of the forewing page, two copies of the hindwing page,
crayons and/or markers, scissors, glue, tape, three 18” pieces of string, and one copy of
either the moth body or the butterfly body to match the antennae they made in Lesson Five.
2. Post Figure 5 prominently in the classroom or draw the images on the board so that the
children can see the butterfly and moth antennae.
3. Have the children cut out the images along the solid black line. Make sure they do not
cut the dashed line. As they do this have them put their forewings in one pile and their
hindwings in another pile.
4. Tell the children the side with the letters and the dashed line will be the underside of
their butterfly’s or moth’s wings. Keeping that in mind, have the children color both sides of
each image. Remind the children that both butterflies and moths have symmetrical wings.
Butterfly Traits:
Symmetrical patterns and colors on the wings
Bright colors like yellow, red, blue, etc…
Moth Traits:
Symmetrical patterns and colors on the wings
Earth-tone colors like brown, pale green, pale orange, pale yellow, etc…
Fuzzy looking abdomen
6. Match up the letters A and B on the left forewing and hindwing and glue. The edge of
the hindwing should line up with the dashed line on the forewing. Do the same for the
right forewing and hindwing.
7. Take one piece of string and run it through holes 1 and 2 on the left wing set. Take
another piece of string and run it through holes 3 and 4 on the right wing set. Do not tie
the strings but wait to be sure they fit the child.
6 7
8. Run the last string through holes 5, 6, 7, and 8 as shown below. This will connect the
left wing set, the body, and the right wing set. Tie the string so it will not slip out of the
holes.
butterfly body
moth body
Listed below are some traits of butterflies and some traits of moths. Write the letter cor-
responding to butterfly traits in the left circle, and write the letter corresponding to moth
traits in the right circle. Write the letter of traits they share in the shaded area. The first
one has been done for you.
Suggested Approach:
Ask your class “How do butterflies and moths grow? Do they start out as little babies like
us or from eggs like snakes, frogs, turtles, and birds?” Using the Figure 7, explain that
because butterflies and moths are insects they start as an egg (point to the figure). “When
the egg hatches the butterfly or moth is called a larva or caterpillar (point to the figure).
Caterpillars spend most of their time feeding on plants and grow very quickly. A caterpillar
grows into a pupa (point to the figure). A butterfly pupa is called a chrysalis and a moth
pupa is inside a cocoon during this stage of its life.” Point to the figure and tell the class
that this is a picture of a chrysalis. “What do you think happens to the pupa inside a
chrysalis or cocoon? The pupa is turning into a butterfly or a moth. This process of change
or transformation from caterpillar to butterfly or moth is called metamorphosis.” Have your
students repeat the word “metamorphosis.”
Review the life cycle with hand motions. “What is the first stage in a butterfly’s
metamorphosis? An egg” (hand clutched tight in a fist). “What is the second stage of a
butterfly’s metamorphosis? A caterpillar” (index finger extended, scrunched, extended,
scrunched). “What is the third stage of a butterfly’s metamorphosis? A chrysalis” (index
finger wrapped by other hand-like a hotdog). “What is the last stage of a butterfly’s
metamorphosis? A butterfly” (thumbs interlocked, fingers wiggling and making a flying
motion).
Materials:
• Tape
• Scissors
• 5 pieces of string, each about 12 inches long
• Crayons or markers
• Enough copies of the Metamorphosis Mobile page for each student (Figures 8.1-8.4)
Suggested Approach:
Review the 4 life-cycle stages for all butterflies and moths. What is the first stage? Egg.
What is the second stage? Caterpillar. What do caterpillars spend their time doing? Eating
plants. What is the third stage for a butterfly? Chrysalis. What is the third stage for a
moth? Cocoon. What goes on during the their final stage? The caterpillar changes into a
winged adult; a butterfly or a moth. What is the last stage? A butterfly or a moth. What is
this kind of life cycle called? This life cycle is called complete metamorphosis.
36
Life Cycle: Metamorphosis Mobile Lesson Eight
Figure 8.3 of 4
Butterflies, beetles, and ants undergo complete metamorphosis. Insects that undergo
complete metamorphosis have a stage in their lives when they transform from larva to
adult. This transformation stage is called the pupal stage. Many other insects (grasshoppers
and true bugs) undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Insects that undergo incomplete
metamorphosis look like a tiny adult when they hatch and grow bigger and bigger through
their lives. Those insects do not have a pupal stage.
Butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars) hatch from an egg. The larva eats, grows, and
sheds its exoskeleton (molting) as it increases in size. The larva then begins the stage of
life called a pupa. The larva (caterpillar) turns into a chrysalis if it is a butterfly or weaves a
cocoon if it is a moth. The pupa then changes into an adult. It grows wings, different legs,
a different mouth, antennae, and different eyes. When the adult emerges from this stage it
searches for a mate. The adult butterflies and mothsof most species only live a few weeks.
Female butterflies and moths lay eggs only on plants that will be the correct food for the
larvae when they hatch.
EGG: The first stage in the life of a butterfly or moth. An egg hatches into a larva.
LARVA: An immature butterfly or moth. The larva is also often called a caterpillar.
PUPA: The stage in the life of a butterfly or moth when it changes from a larva to an adult.
ADULT: The stage in the life of a butterfly or moth when it has wings, finds a mate, and
reproduces.
Materials:
Drawing paper
Scissors
Crayons and/or markers
Suggested Approach:
Pass out the materials to each child and explain the following instructions:
1. Fold a piece of drawing paper in half. 2. Draw a kidney bean shaped figure
along the folded edge.
3. Cut out the figure. 4. Unfold the figure, draw, and color a
butterfly on one side of the paper.
5. Fold the paper in half again with the 6. Flip the folded paper over to the
blank sides facing out. Draw and color a other blank side. Draw and color a pupa
caterpillar on one side. on this side.
Objective: Students learn how and what butterflies and moths eat.
Suggested Approach:
Before going to the butterfly exhibit tell your students that they have to find out how and
what butterflies and moths eat. They can do this by observing the butterflies, looking for
the information on an interpretive panel, or by asking one of the people working in the
exhibit.
After your museum visit, ask your class what they found. Butterflies and moths feed on a
wide variety of foods for energy and reproduction. They primarily feed on flower nectar but
they also feed on sap and rotten fruit. All butterflies drink water, but male butterflies also
drink liquids to obtain minerals that are important for reproduction.
If one male finds a good mineral-rich wet spot to drink, others of the same species follow
his example. This is known as “puddling.” Females don’t puddle but they do drink water to
stay hydrated.
Butterflies and moths drink their liquid food through a proboscis. The proboscis is a long
straw-like tube that unrolls from the head when the butterfly needs to take either food or
water for its liquid diet.
Objective: Students understand how butterflies and moths use pheromones and other senses
to find and recognize each other.
Materials:
Cotton balls
5 blindfolds
Some kind of essential oil (mint, orange, sage, etc.)
Suggested Approach:
Ask your students: “How do you think butterflies and moths find mates? Keep in mind that
butterflies are active during the day and moths are active during the night.” Listen to their
responses. Ask them to tell you the main differences between butterflies and moths. We
learned that butterflies have club-shaped antennae, are often brightly colored, and active
during the day. We also learned that moths have feathery antennae, are often duller in
color, and active at night. Many butterflies rely on bright display colors for mating rituals
and courtship. Ask your class what body part butterflies and moths use to smell. Ask them
how they think moths that fly at night and butterflies that live in dimly lit forests find mates.
It is too dark to see colors well so how do you think they find each other? Female moths
and some species of butterflies produce large amounts of pheromones, a kind of chemical
perfume. Males use their antennae to detect the pheromones of potential mates from great
distances. Ask your class if they think it would be hard to find something or someone using
only smell. Tell the class that they are going to see if they can follow a “pheromone” trail
as well as a moth.
Note: Someone should be available to help guide the child and to make sure they don’t run
into anything while they are blindfolded.
Objective: Students learn observation skills and demonstrate what features butterflies use
(color, odor, taste and appearance) to find a host plant (a larval food plant is called a host
plant).
Materials:
6 jams of the same color- These 6 can have different textures as long as they are all the
same color or roughly so. Some can even be the same flavor as long as the texture is
different and the colors are the same.
Suggested Approach:
Preparation
1. Set out two small paper plates and an index card for every child in the class.
2. Assign a number to each of the six jams.
3. Write the numbers for each of the six jams on one of the child’s plates.
4. Place a small amount of each jam next to its number on the plate.
5. Write the name of one of the jams on the second plate and place a small amount of that
jam on it.
In Class
6. Explain that once a butterfly has mated the female will carefully search for the correct
food plant for her eggs and future larvae. Butterflies are very picky about where they
lay their eggs because each species of butterfly caterpillar is adapted to eat only specific
kinds of plants. These plants are called “host plants.” The female butterfly instinctively
recognizes the leaf shape, color, odor, taste, texture, and appearance of her species’ host
plant.
7. Write the ways a butterfly recognizes a host plant on the board.
8. Tell the class that the labeled jam on their plate is their “host” jam. Tell them to
pretend that they are butterflies and that their baby caterpillars will only be able to eat that
jam. Students should find their “host” jam on the second paper plate.
9. Tell them to first observe their “host” jam and to list the observations on their index
card.
10. Encourage students to use their senses to determine which mystery jam is their “host”
jam.
11. When they think they have figured out which of the 6 mystery jams is their “host” jam
they should write down the number of that jam on their index card.
12. When everyone has had enough time to find their “host” jam read out the number and
its corresponding jam.
13. For each of the 6 “host” jams go around the room and ask what senses the kids used to
determine their host jam and what their observations were about their jam.
14. Explain that this is what a butterfly must go through when trying to find its host plant.
Fun Fact: The criterion for selecting a mate is different from one species to another. Some
species of butterflies and moths will perform ritual dances in the air or on leaves. A female
may judge a male’s strength and vigor by how well he follows her complicated aerial dance.
Materials:
Tape
Crayons and/or Markers
Scissors
Drawing paper
Suggested Approach:
Some animals (for example, birds, bats, spiders, dragonflies, and mice) rely heavily on
Lepidoptera for food. Butterflies and moths have evolved several strategies to keep from
being eaten. These include:
Warning coloration- a bold pattern and bright contrasting colors. Bright warning coloration,
especially yellow-and-black, orange, or red, warn birds and other predators that such insects
may bite, sting, or taste bad.
Camouflage- Moths and many butterflies, particularly females, have earth-tone colors or
patterns that resemble tree bark, lichens, or leaves. This “cryptic coloration” allows them to
avoid predators by blending into their surroundings.
Mimicry- Some butterflies and moths deter predators by mimicking the color pattern of other
less edible species or other insects, plants, and animals.
1) Batesian Mimicry
Some harmless Lepidoptera species mimic the appearance of other species that are
poisonous or distasteful. They “pretend” to be poisonous and predators avoid them.
2) Mullerian Mimicry
Sometimes two species look alike and both are poisonous or distasteful. When a
predator attacks one of the two, it remembers the color pattern and is unlikely to
attack either, avoiding insects with that color pattern.
Defense patterns- Alarm Patterns: Eyespots on wings intimidate predators, especially small
birds, who think they see the eye of a larger bird that might harm them.
1. Tell the class that they are going to play a camouflage game.
2. Pass out a couple of pieces of drawing paper, scissors, and some crayons and/or markers
to each child.
3. Ask each child to make a butterfly that would be camouflaged in some part of the
classroom.
5. When everyone is finished with their butterfly break the class into groups of 5-8.
6. While the rest of the class has their eyes closed put a folded piece of tape on the back
of the first group’s butterflies. Have the children hide their butterflies around the room in
places where their butterflies would be difficult to see.
7. When the first group is done have the rest of the class get up and try to find the
camouflaged butterflies.
8. When all of them have been found, let the next group hide their butterflies.
9. Continue this process until all the children have had a chance to hide their butterflies.
The Butterflies of North America: a Natural History and Field Guide [interactive multimedia software]
Scott, James A.
A comprehensive field guide to all the butterfly species of North America, including field maps, full-
color pictures, and discussion of anatomy and behavior.
Chasing Monarchs
Pyle, Robert Michael
The author, to discover the secret of monarch migration, set out to find individual butterflies at their
northernmost habitat, follow them as far as possible, and repeated the process with other individual
butterflies along the southward route.
Florida Butterflies
Gerberg, Eugene J.
Handy guide for the initiated naturalist who desires a complete record of Florida butterflies.
Florida Butterfly Gardening: a complete guide to attracting, identifying, and enjoying butterflies of
the lower South
Minno, Marc C. and Maria
400+ color photos taken by the authors, showing every butterfly in adult, larva, and pupa stages,
with practical information on garden plants, installation, and maintenance, as well as inquiry-based
science activities and a Florida butterfly checklist.
An Obsession with Butterflies: Our Long Love Affair with a Singular Insect
Russell, Sharman
An acclaimed nature writer takes a delightful look at the science of butterflies--and our obsession
with them.
Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening: a Guide for the Deep South
Daniels, Jaret C.
This book offers a thorough look a Florida’s most important butterflies and the plants they prefer for
food, shelter and egg laying.
Websites
The following web site offers lesson plans and has served as a signigicant reference for this
guide:
Enchanted Learning
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly
Places to visit
Butterfly Pavilion
6252 W 104 Avenue
Westminster, CO 80022
www.butterflies.org
Butterfly World
Tradewinds Park
3600 W. Sample Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
(954) 977-4400
www.butterflyworld.com