Final answer:
The Monarch butterfly life cycle starts with the egg stage on a milkweed leaf, followed by the larval stage where the caterpillar eats milkweed for 10 to 14 days, pupation into a chrysalis for about four weeks, adulthood, and finally migration to a winter habitat when temperatures drop.
The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
The stages of the Monarch butterfly life cycle begin with the egg, which is the stage most commonly found on the milkweed leaf. The following stages would be:
- Eating milkweed leaves: After hatching, the caterpillars, known as larvae, will eat only milkweed leaves. This stage lasts about 10 to 14 days.
- Pupation: During this stage, the caterpillar will hang from a structure and transform into a chrysalis (not a cocoon, which is specific to moths), and undergo metamorphosis. After roughly four weeks, they will emerge as butterflies with visible wings.
- Adult Butterfly: Once emerged, the adult Monarchs feed on nectar from flowers, including milkweed and wild lupine, and the cycle continues.
- Migration: Monarch butterflies participate in a remarkable migration, where they travel up to 3,000 miles to their winter habitat in Mexico when temperatures reach around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is important to note that not all generations of Monarchs migrate due to their short life spans. Moreover, changes in day length can trigger hormonal changes leading to this migration behavior.
The correct option is A.