"Painted Ladies vs Monarchs"
Complete Metamorphosis in the Classroom

Butterflies provide an excellent opportunity to observe the bizarre life cycle of one of our most amazing neighbors! They are easy to obtain and care for and can open a world of interest to your students.

Many teachers use their budget to buy Painted Lady butterflies from a lab, and then release non-native organisms into the local environment. While probably no big crime to the local ecosystems in such small numbers, it is a stronger lesson to teach children why it is better to 'nurture' local animals when you can. And you learn the same lessons!

During your BUGMAN classroom visit, we will investigate:

• the ecology of these animals and introduce Monarch Butterflies as a great local alternative (or build on your knowledge if you have already made the switch!)

• the stages in the life cycle

• other important things in the life of a butterfly in Ohio.

We will bring living specimens and other aides, and an entertaining, educational experience your class will be able to build upon in your nature studies.

Schedule before the FIRST FROST and we will include some milkweed seeds you can germinate in the Spring to start your own Monarch Garden, and an egg or young larva* on a Milkweed sprig* (*when available) you can raise in your classroom!

	Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)	Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Source	mail order	nature (locally)
Caterpillar Food	artificial diet	Milkweed
Life Cycle	1 month (approx.)	1 month (approx.)
Metamorphosis	complete	complete
Larva Color	brownish mottled	colorful black          and yellow
Pupa Color	reddish-brown	emerald with          gold accents
Adult Color	pretty orange          and brown	pretty orange          and black
Safe to Release	NO!!	YES!