Summary
A tiny parasite can hitch a ride on monarch butterflies and weaken them as they grow. Deep Look shows how this parasite spreads through the monarch's life cycle and adds to the challenges these famous migrators already face.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Parasite spores stick to a monarch and pass to its caterpillars through the eggs and milkweed, weakening the next generation. Crowded or unhealthy habitats make it worse -- a stress on monarchs already facing habitat loss.
- How does the parasite pass from one monarch to the next?
- How does the parasite affect a monarch's life cycle?
- Why do healthy habitats help keep monarchs strong?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: parasite, life cycle, monarch, habitat.
Try it: Draw the monarch life cycle and mark where the parasite spreads. Write how a healthy habitat helps monarchs stay strong.