Meal Worm Lab

Meal worms
Scientific Method Step: Ask A question! Make Observations, Do Research and Ask a question
1. Observations
|Record your observations about mealworms (shape, size, number of legs and segments, |Draw a detailed picture of your meal worm. |
|analogies, movements, response to stimuli, etc..) | |
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2. Research
After you have observed your mealworms, read the article about mealworms and underline the keywords and note the information provided that will help you in your experiments. WRITE THE NOTES IN THE MARGINS and IN THE BOX BELOW.
|Keywords, Main Ideas, Questions |Notes |
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3. Ask a Question (Purpose based on your observations)
After reading about mealworms and observing your mealworms, write down 3 questions you have about mealworms that can be answered by doing an experiment..

|Group Members Names: |

The Meal Worm Experiment
Complete the LAB REPORT
A. TITLE:
_______________________________________________________________________
B. PURPOSE: ______________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. HYPOTHESIS: IF__________________________________________________________________
THEN________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
D. What are your independent variables?_________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
E. What are your dependent variables?___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
F.
What is your control?________________________________________________________________
G. What are your
constants?____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
H.
MATERIALS (List):
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I. PROCEDURES (List, detailed and anyone can repeat it): • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • Draw the Experimental Set up in the box below:
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J. RESULTS (Data/Analysis): You will run 10 trials and show your results in the form of a graph. Line or Bar? (circle one)
|Variables |1 |
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Now Graph as a bar graph:

L. CONCLUSIONS: Accept or reject hypothesis. Look at lab report template to complete this section.
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M. REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. What could you do to improve your experiment for next time?

2. Did you enjoy the experiment?

RESEARCH READING. TAKE NOTES IN YOUR RESEARCH SECTION:
|Darkling Beetle/Mealworm Information |

|Phylum, Arthropoda; Class, Insecta; Order, Coleoptera |
|Identifying Features |
|Appearance (Morphology) |
|Adult Beetle |
|Black with hardened front wings (elytra) |
|Antennae arise under ridge near eyes |
|Antennae many-segmented, enlarging near tip |
|Shape quite variable, from almost parallel-sided to round |
|Head visible from top, followed by pronotum and elytra about same width |
|Mealworm (larva) averages an inch in length. They have a tough yellowish brown exoskeleton and are cylindrical. |
|Adult Males and Females |
|It is difficult to tell the difference between the males and females without a microscope and dissection. |
|Immatures (different stages) |
|The larval stage (referred to generally as mealworms) is worm-like and somewhat hardened for burrowing. The egg is white. The pupa is 1/2 to |
|3/4" long., white initially then darkening just before the beetle emerges. Length of the life cycle is 3-5 months. The larval stage may molt |
|9-20 times. |
|Natural History |
|Food |
|The beetles and larvae eat decaying leaves, sticks, grasses and occasionally new plant growth. As general decomposers, they also eat dead |
|insects, feces and stored grains. |
|Habitat |
|Mealworms live in areas surrounded by what they eat under rocks, and logs, in animal burrows and in stored grains. They clean up after plants |
|and animals, and therefore can be found anywhere where "leftovers" occur. |
|Predators |
|Many predators eat mealworms including rodents, lizards, predatory beetles, spiders, and birds. |
|Interesting Behaviors |
|When disturbed, some beetles (genus Eleodes)assume a defensive posture in which they stand on their head and release chemicals from a scent |
|gland in the rear that produces noxious odors and turns skin brown. Mealworms prefer darkness and to have their body in contact with an |
|object. |
|Impact on the Ecosystem |
|Positive |
|Clean up organic materials not readily used by others. Mealworms are food for other animals. |
|Negative |
|Sometimes mealworms feed on seedlings and clip plants off near soil line. Mealworms can be pests to stored grain. |
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|Set up your experiment: How to Make a Mealworm Experiment Container |
|Materials |
|Scissors |
|Masking tape |
|Mealworms |
|One box container for each team or inividual student |
|Black construction paper |
|Procedures: |
|Set up your experiment! Using your box container |
|Independent Variable 1 |
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|Independent Variable 2 |
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|Independent Variable 3 |
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|Control |
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|Place your independent variables in the 3 sections. |
|Close the lid and wait for 2 minutes. |
|Open the lid and count the number of mealworms in each section. |
|Record your date in your notebook chart. |
|Handling Mealworms |
|To pick up a mealworm, use a plastic spoon or a folded 3x5" card to scoop up. When holding mealworms, keep hands over the container or table |
|to avoid dropping the mealworms on the floor. |
|Precautions |
|Do not leave the containers where the sun will hit them. The containers can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days if the mealworm|
|is provided with a little bran. Keep in mind, adding the bran also adds a new variable to the experiment. After the experiment is completed, |
|dismantle the containers and give the mealworms food. |

HONORS: You will have to draw at least 3 of your observations and create a poster of your experiment.