NEWS

Flying with Colors

Posted 8/23/23

University of Rhode Island Master Gardener Sandra Cook held an informational lecture about the life cycle and migration patterns of Monarch butterflies at the Cranston’s William Hall Library, …

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CHANGE COMING SOON: Monarch caterpillars eventually configure themselves into the shape of the letter J before entering their chrysalis and eventually emerging as a fully formed Butterfly ready to start their journey.

MUNCHING ON MILKWEED: Sandra Cook shows a captive audience a monarch caterpillar on its favorite food, a milkweed leaf.

WELCOME TO OUR TALK: William Hall Librarian Robin Nyzio introduces Sandra Cook for her presentation.

TELL US MORE: The gathered crowd hangs on to every word as they learn about the interesting life cycle of the monarch butterfly.

Posted Wednesday, August 23, 2023 12:00 am

University of Rhode Island Master Gardener Sandra Cook held an informational lecture about the life cycle and migration patterns of Monarch butterflies at the Cranston’s William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St, on August 16.

The program, titled “A Monarch Life,” demonstrated Cook’s work of raising and tagging monarch butterflies in Rhode Island. Compared to other butterflies, the monarch has a very unique life cycle. Yearly, the beautiful orange and black butterflies take on a four-generation migration cycle that takes the kaleidoscope, yes that’s what a group of butterflies are called, from Canada to Mexico. Each generation of the butterflies has a life-cycle of approximately three months. This means that a journey started by one generation is then continued by their children until being picked up by their grandchildren and so on.

Cook explained to attendees that as part of her job she tags and releases between 75 and 100 of the beautiful butterflies a year in order to better understand their migration practices. (Photos by Steve Popiel)