Lifecycles of Butterflies
Lesson 12
The Butterflies Go Free
In this lesson students should make the connection of the importance of the natural environment to the survival of the butterfly.
3. Lesson set up and Management
The NSRC advises against release of any organisms from STC units due to possible environmental impacts, and some state or local laws prohibit the introduction of non-indigenous species. The painted lady probably would not impact the environment as it is common throughout the US; however, you need to consider the legal ramifications. Therefore lesson 12 may have to be modified to keep the butterflies in flight cages and raise a second generation rather than release.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the release of the Painted Lady Butterfly is prohibited by law. Do not release the butterflies.
LS1B: Animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into children, adolescents, then adults, reproducing (which begins a new cycle), and eventually dying. The details of the life cycle are different for different animals.
All living organisms have an impact on the natural environment.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Procedure:
Discuss the possible impact upon the environment if the butterflies were to be released. Continue the discussion with reasons why it is important to follow the law and environmental regulations.
Once you complete the unit, there are several things you can do with the organisms.
Continue to maintain them in your classroom. If you decide to try and raise a second generation, be aware that as the new caterpillars hatch, they are about the size of a gnat. They can easily escape from netted cages and cracks in the box cages. Tape around the edges of the cages to keep them in, or insert paper around the inside edges and tape it down. They will also drown themselves in droves in the sugar water if it is left in the cage. They will also need a food source such as fresh mallow leaves.
If the decision is made to keep the butterflies, plans should be made for gathering mallow or other caterpillar food sources. The adult butterflies will lay eggs on the paper towel in the bottom of the flight cage, but prefer to lay their eggs on the leaves of the caterpillar's future food. Extra food supplies can be purchased from Carolina Biological at a reasonable price. www.carolina.com
Donate them to another classroom or another school science department. If you donate the organisms to another group make sure to send the Advisory on Releasing Organisms and the information for proper disposal.
As biologists suggest, you can place the organism in a sealed container, freeze them, then bury or dispose of them. This is the most humane way to dispose of living organisms.
Wait for nature to complete the life cycle. Adult butterflies have an approximate 14 day life span, during these two weeks the butterflies are instinctively busy eating and reproducing. They will naturally die, thus completing the life cycle.
Preparing for Death:
Death is a natural part of the butterflies’ life cycle. It is important to prepare children for this event. When discussing death the four major points that children need to understand are:
Death is irreversible.
All life functions cease at the time of death.
There are true causes why living things die.
Death is inevitable.
To prepare students, the discussion about death should be done prior to any butterfly deaths in the classroom. Children are exposed to information about death from many sources and often times it is incorrect, creating misconceptions. This discussion about death may be the only chance some of your students will have to acquire honest and accurate information about death.
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Writing Support:
Students can write letters home to explain why the butterflies cannot be released..
Reading Support:
The Tree in the Wood, Christopher Manson
Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children, Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, Judith Viorst
I’ll Always Love You, Hans Wilhelm