wowbUG fACTS

8 processes of Life Grow/Develop Obtain Nutrients and Use Energy Movement Reproduce Excrete Respire Respond to Changes in Environment Adapt over Time

Description- About 1.5 mm in length six jointed legs four wings (most) 3 body sections: head, thorax, abdomen Exoskeleton made of chitin- nonliving protein-carbohydrate compound secreted by arthropods Small, harmless, parasitic wasp- unable to sting humans Found around world, in U.S. located in South Eastern states- mud dauber wasp location

WOWBug Classification Melittobia digitata WOWBug Spider Human Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda ”jointed foot” Arthropoda Chordata- has backbone Class Insect Arachnid Mammalia- nurse young

Movement- 1. Walking/crawling 2. Hopping- used to surprise predator 3. Flying- rarely, too light

SPIRACLES- used for gas exchange Cellular Respiration SPIRACLES- used for gas exchange

Respond to Environment 1. Play dead - used to escape predators 2. Attracted to light and like to crawl upward 3. Grooming

Reproduction 1. Asexual- parthenogenesis 2. Sexual- 95 % of population female 1. Asexual- parthenogenesis No male required, chemical released allows fertilization to occur Few eggs produced, usually develop into males that mate with other females 2. Sexual- - requires a male for fertilization, 800 eggs produced 95% female

Female vs Male

Life Cycle Mud Dauber Wasp Mud Dauber Wasp Pupa

18-25 days total parasite 14 days as adult- do not feed

Summarizing 8 Life Processes 1. Made of Cells- The WOWBug is multicellular because it consists of many different body parts. Each part has different cells. Reflection In this unit I learned about parthenogenesis. This is a form of asexual reproduction used by a WOWBug to help prevent extinction.