Conservation Tales
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Identify a Butterfly
​Inquiry Activity
​
A learning activity by Tom J. McConnell & Ashley Owens
Ball State University. 

Produced for Conservation Tales: Monarch Butterflies (2021)
Picture
How can you tell a female monarch butterfly from a male?

So you've looked at the samples of both male and female monarch butterflies. What did you notice about the differences? Did you see any visible differences between them?

Experienced butterfly watchers know where to look! They look for a dark thick "spot" on one of the lines on each side of a monarch's wings! If the dark spot is there, that butterfly is a male. If not, the butterfly is a female!

Look at the photos below! These are taken from the sample photos on the previous page. We have added arrows to help you see what you should notice! See the dark spots??  On the underside of the wing, the spot is harder to see - it is faint, and the difference between male and female is not very big. 
Female Butterflies
Picture
Picture
Male Monarch Butterflies
Picture
Picture
Do you see it now?

Once you know what to look for, this becomes a bit easier! Go back to the Main Page to see the same samples again, and see if the spots (or no spots) become easier to see!

When you feel like you are getting better at noticing the differences, try the quiz!  Just use the buttons to pick the page you need next!
Main Page
Butterfly ID Quiz
Picture
For the Teacher
Grade Level: 3-5
Class Periods: 1-2

NGSS Standards
Performance Expectations
  • 2-LS1-2
​Practices 
  • Developing & Using Models
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
​Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • LS1.D
​Croscutting Concepts
  • Patterns
  • ​System & System Models
​

​
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  • Home
    • About the project
  • Books
    • Cerulean Warbler
    • Bats
    • Salamanders
    • Bees
    • Sea Turtles
    • Seahorses
    • Manatees
    • Elephants
    • Giraffes
    • Orangutans
    • Tigers
    • Monarch
    • Carp
    • Macaws
    • Sloths
    • Conservation Tales Junior
  • ELearning
  • eStore
    • Bookstore
    • Gift Shop
    • EdSales
  • Meet the Team
    • Current Team
    • Central America Team
    • Midwest II series
    • Asia Series Team
    • Midwest Series Team
    • Gulf Coast Series Team
    • Africa Series Team
    • CT Junior Series
    • Sponsors
    • Conservation Partners
  • Events
  • Extras
    • Photo Credits
    • Project Achievements
  • Activities
    • FeatherDetective >
      • At My Feeder
      • MW Fields & Woods
      • Let's Travel!
    • ButterflyCardGame
    • Turtle Detectives
    • What's Your Footprint?
    • manateeid
    • Manatee Eye in the Sky
    • BeeHouse
    • ElephantID >
      • ElephantPhotos
    • Wildlife Watch
    • Guided Reading
  • ButterflyID
  • BflyIDDiscuss
  • ButterflyIDQuiz