more monarchs to migrate from NCCS!

Early Childhood, Lower School and Middle School have been enjoying some pretty amazing fall guests in their classrooms. Monarch butterfly larvae were collected from milkweed plants (the monarch larvae’s host plant) around campus so that students could observe as this species undergoes metamorphosis into adult butterflies. In the fall, the Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains undertake the longest migration known of any butterfly species as they attempt to fly to overwintering sites in the mountains of central Mexico. These adults (the great, great grand offspring of the butterflies that migrated back to North America last spring) are morphologically different than spring and summer monarch butterflies. This generation has undeveloped reproductive systems and large abdominal fat stores; adaptations that help them make the long journey south. Country School students of various ages watched with awe and wonder as larvae grew, molted, pupated and then emerged as beautiful winged adults. They then released them and wished them luck on their epic migration. To learn more about the monarch butterflies and track their migration, go to Journey North.