Objectives: Students will be able to identify the different stages of the life cycle of butterflies. Students will be able to describe why host plants are important to butterfly populations. Students will be able to identify which stages of the butterfly life cycle need the host plants are

for the survival of butterfly species. Students will be able to positively impact butterfly populations. Students will be able to design and plan a community garden to raise and support a butterfly species of their choice.

Next Generation Science Standard: HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Materials: Each student needs a pen or pencil, the worksheet about butterfly species and host plants, access to the internet, and the My Butterfly Garden Plan worksheet. Optional: For creating a real, class butterfly Garden (outside): Plot of land, topsoil, host plants (see below), nectar plants and access to water.

Background: Within this activity, students will learn about different native Illinois butterflies and their host plants. They will then develop a plan for a community garden to improve native butterfly populations.

The life cycle of a butterfly: A female butterfly deposits her eggs on a leaf of the host plant. Typically, she can lay up to 1,600 eggs in her life time. Most eggs hatch to reveal a tiny caterpillar within a few days. The newly hatched caterpillar, eat their shell and then eat the leaves of the host plant. This stage can last ten days to two years, depending on the species. They spin a silk pad to attach them to a twig or other part of the host plant. Then, they molt into a pupa, called a chrysalis. This stage lasts a few days to a few months, and then a winged butterfly adult emerges. The life span of an adult butterfly depends on the species and the environmental conditions.

Watch this video for a time-lapse of a butterfly metamorphosis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocWgSgMGxOc&app=desktop

Why are host plants so important? Most species of butterfly have adapted to feeding on one or a few closely related plants. These plants are the only things the caterpillars can eat. Without their host plant, the species will not continue to survive. A host plant is a plant upon which an organism lodges and subsists. There is a direct link between the butterfly species and its reliance on the host plant.

How can humans positively impact butterfly populations? Humans can positively impact butterfly populations by ensuring that their host plants are available throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America. Additionally, humans can make sure that nectar plants are available during the butterflies’ migration.

Why are we concerned for butterfly populations? Human activities such as development and farming practices have led to a decline in butterfly habitats, nectar sources, and native host plants.

Planted Podcast Season 1: Ep. 2 LessonHelping Native Butterfly Populations

To learn more about how to assess butterfly habitats for this activity, go here: https://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/waystation_requirements.pdf

Procedure:1. Discuss with your students what they know about butterflies, using the prompting questions

below: a. Let’s think about the relationship between butterflies and the ecosystems they live in-

What types of ecosystem services are help them survive? b. Think about the butterfly life cycle- how does their ecosystem needs change over the

course of their life. Think about the link is between caterpillars and butterflies- How does this process change their needs overtime?

c. Where do butterflies deposit their eggs? d. How does a caterpillar change into a butterfly? What happens?

2. Show students the butterfly metamorphosis time-lapse video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocWgSgMGxOc&app=desktop

3. Ask students where the butterfly lays its eggs or eats as a caterpillar. a. Introduce the term host plant: a plant on which an organism lodges or subsists

4. Ask students if they are familiar with any host plants. a. Some may say milkweed for Monarch butterflies.

5. Explain to students the importance of host plants and how some butterfly species have as many as thousands while other species only have one or two types of plants they need to survive.

6. Brainstorm with students some of the ways human activities are impacting butterfly populations:

a. Development, deforestation, and urbanization: The spread of human development (factories, shopping centers, homes) is leading to the decline in habitats and host plants for butterflies.

b. Agricultural herbicides: As herbicides are used in croplands and along roadsides, many of the “weedy” host plants can die off. What looks like a weed to us, may be a home for them.

c. Genetically modified crops: Many farmers use herbicide-resistant crops, corn or soybeans, which rapidly grow and multiply until they are widespread. Corn and soybean alone have resulted in the loss of more than 80 million acres of monarch habitat.

7. Discuss with students what healthy butterfly habitats need: a. Nectar plants: Nectar is what adult butterflies eat. Providing this in the habitat is crucial

if we want adults to survive along their migration and stop and lay eggs. b. Host plants: These plants allow the eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalis to survive. They are

vital to the continued life cycle of the species and should be in the habitat. c. Shelter: Plants which are planted closer together, but not crowded, allow some

protection from predators and the elements. Plant both the nectar plants and the host plants together to maximize the wildlife and the survival of the butterfly species.

d. Exposure: Butterflies and their nectar and host plants need sun to survive. The habitat should be in a sunny spot.

Planted Podcast Season 1: Ep. 2 LessonHelping Native Butterfly Populations

e. Size: There is no maximum or minimum size for a butterfly habitat – but it helps to have at least a few plants, in a cluster. However, an effective butterfly habitat needs to be at least 100 square feet.

f. Proper Drainage and Soil: This will vary depending on the butterfly species you choose and the host / nectar plants they need.

8. Ask students what else would be needed, if humans were the one developing and creating these spaces:

a. Care and management plan: This includes mulching, fertilizing, watering, etc. 9. Explain to students that they will be creating their own butterfly habitat plan. (Optional: your

class could develop a plan and then create the garden together) 10. Instruct students to take a look at the ‘Butterflies and Their Host Plants’ sheet. 11.Explain to students that they will choose a native butterfly to create a habitat for and fill out the

details of their plan on the ‘My Butterfly Garden Plan’ worksheet. 12.Explain to students that this sheet should serve as a starting point for their internet research

and that they must choose and design a garden for one of the five native butterflies on this sheet.

13.Go around the room assisting students in choosing their butterflies, researching the plants and care instructions online, and filling out their worksheet

14. (Optional: As a class, plant and build your butterfly habitat plan)

Planted Podcast Season 1: Ep. 2 LessonHelping Native Butterfly Populations

Butterflies and Their Host PlantsButterfly Species Potential Host Plants Growing Conditions

Monarch Butterflies Danaus plexippus

(life cycle to adult stage takes up to a month to a month and a half)

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

See this guide to find out which Milkweed species grow in your region: https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/MilkweedFactSheetFINAL.pdf

Start the milkweed seeds indoors, as milkweed from seed generally does not begin growing in northern gardens in time for butterfly migration.

Conditions for planting milkweed vary with the species.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

(life cycle to adult stage takes up to 2 months)

Rose family: Rosaceae Magnolia family: Magnoliaceae Olive Family: Oleaceae

Examples include: Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), Willow (Salix spp.), Birch (Betula spp.), Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Tulip Popular (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Lilac is recommended as both the caterpillar and the butterflies of eastern tiger swallowtails eat the leaves and nectar from this plant.

Lilac: Neutral to alkaline soil, Full sun – at least 6 hours, well-drained soil, plant in spring or fall – fall preferred.

Eastern Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes

(life cycle to adult stage takes up to 2 months)

Citrus family (Rutaceae): Hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), Hercules club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), Wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara), Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), Citrus spp., Orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata), Rue (Ruta graveolens), Gas plant (Dictamnus albus)

Conditions for planting host plants vary based off of the variety and species.

Native, flowering species are recommended.

Painted lady Vanessa cardui

(life cycle to adult stage takes up to 3.5 weeks)

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) Garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina)Hollyhock (Alcea spp.)Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

Conditions for planting host plants vary based off of the variety and species.

Native, flowering species are recommended.

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

(life cycle to adult stage 3.5 weeks to a month)

Nettles (Urtica spp.)Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)False nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica) Common hops (Humulus lupulus)

Conditions for planting host plants vary based off of the variety and species.

Native species are recommended.

Planted Podcast Season 1: Ep. 2 LessonHelping Native Butterfly Populations

My Butterfly Garden Plan: Name: _________________

Components: Details:

Butterfly Species

Size and Location

Exposure (lots or little sun)

Host Plants

Nectar Plants

Drainage and Soil Type(make sure this works for

both host and nectar plants)

Shelter(how many of each kind of plant and how far apart are

they planted)

Management(how should we take care of

this butterfly garden)

Time of Year (when will the butterflies will

be present)

Planted Podcast Season 1: Ep. 2 LessonHelping Native Butterfly Populations