Activity

White butterfly life cycle

In this activity, students use white butterfly eggs, larvae and pupae to examine the white butterfly life cycle and to compare it with that of a monarch butterfly.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

  • observe and discuss the life cycle of the white butterfly

  • compare and contrast the white butterfly’s life cycle with that of the monarch

  • record and graph caterpillar growth.

Monarch butterfly life cycle

The life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Click on one of titles to find out more about each stage.

Rights: University of Waikato

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

  • introduction/background notes

  • instructions on what you need and what to do

  • discussion questions

  • student handout.

Related content

Read more about white butterflies and monarch butterflies.

In this activity, watch a video on rearing moths and then write a ‘how to’ guide on Rearing insects.

Useful link

Visit the Wikipedia website to see images of the Pieris rapae life cycle.

Published: 16 May 2010,Updated: 16 May 2010