Unlocking the Secrets of Monarch Migration
Interviewer: Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies leave Canada and the northern United States to travel thousands of miles south to the mountain forests of Mexico. Today, we are speaking with Dr. Elena Gomez, an entomologist who studies insect migration. Dr. Gomez, how can a creature as fragile as a butterfly survive such a massive journey?
Dr. Gomez: It is truly one of the greatest wonders in nature! Monarchs may look delicate, but they are remarkably tough gliders. Instead of flapping their wings the entire way, they use rising columns of warm air, called thermals, to soar through the sky. This saves energy so they can travel up to thirty miles a day.
Interviewer: For decades, scientists wondered how to follow an insect across an entire continent without weighing it down. How do you track them?
Dr. Gomez: The most famous and successful method is actually surprisingly simple: tiny, lightweight paper tags. We attach a small round sticker, about the size of a hole punch from notebook paper, to the monarch's lower wing. The sticker is coated in a special adhesive that sticks firmly without hurting the butterfly or affecting its ability to fly.
Interviewer: What is printed on these tiny tags?
- entomologist:
- A scientist who specializes in the study of insects.
- migration:
- The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.
- thermals:
- Columns of warm, rising air that birds and insects use to glide and stay aloft.
- adhesive:
- A substance, such as glue or paste, used to stick things firmly together.
- database:
- A structured collection of data stored in a computer system and easily accessed.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where do monarch butterflies travel every autumn when leaving Canada and the northern United States?
- 2How do monarch butterflies save energy while traveling long distances?
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About this interview / q&a passage for Upper Elementary
“Unlocking the Secrets of Monarch Migration” is a interview / q&a reading passage about Butterfly Migration, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (549 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.