Practice With Butterfly Identification Look, Measure, Draw, Describe Background Here's a fun exercise to develop observation skills. First students observe two butterfly species carefully and draw them to scale. (The process of drawing forces us to look closely!) Next students describe the butterflies in writing and then read thorough descriptions that scientists wrote. Monarch Danaus plexippus Photo Jim Gilbert Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Photo Peter J. Bryant >> Look Carefully compare the photos of the Monarch and Painted Lady above. The characteristics you see at first glance are called "field marks." As you prepare to draw, notice the distinguishing field marks for each species. Measure Size is an important field mark. You can tell the size in these photos, so here are the wing span measurements for each species. Painted Lady: 2 - 2 7/8 inches (5.1 - 7.3 cm). Monarch: 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches (8.6 - 12.4 cm). Draw Now pull out your sketch pad and draw each butterfly. Drawing forces us to look very closely! Use this butterfly template if you need help getting started. Make your drawings to scale. (It's the process of drawing that's important. Encourage students should not be concenred about the It doesn't matter how the butterfly looks; the process of drawing Describe Next, write a description that compares and contrasts the two species. If a person were having trouble telling monarchs from painted ladies, which field marks would you suggest they pay attention to? Helpful Vocabulary Upperside (of wings) Underside forewing hindwing wing margin leading edge of wing wing shape wing pattern scales (colors and patterns--spots, stripes, etc.) veins (colors and patterns) head thorax abdomen   Read Scientific Descriptions The website Butterflies and Moths of North America is an excellent resource for butterfly information. There, you can compare your verbal description of each butterfly to the descriptions written by experts: Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Observe Now that you've sharpened your observation skills, here are other butterfly species that are sometimes confused with monarchs. Take a close look — and sketch a few— to become familiar with their similarities and differences: Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) Queen (Danaus gilippus) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Swallowtail (various species) Tip   For further writing practice, students can write desriptions of butterflies and then challenge classmates to match descriptions with photos. Journaling Questions In what ways do monarchs and painted ladies look alike? In what ways are they different? What did you notice while drawing each butterfly that you hadn't noticed before? Based on your experience, describe how drawing helps you observe more closely. How does specific vocabulary help with observation? Is it possible for a monarch to be smaller than a painted lady? What's the closest they can be in size? National Science Education Standards Science as Inquiry Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms. (K-4) Different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific investigations. Some involve observing and describing objects, organisms, or events. This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2008 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.