INSECT MOUTHPART LAB

Insect Classification Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Arthropoda Class – Hexapoda (Insects)

Characteristics of Arthropods The appendages are jointed. The body is formed of a number of segments. They have an exoskeleton. The hard outer covering supports the muscles.

Characteristics of Insects Three Main Body Parts

Head One pair of antennae. tactile organs olfactory organs sense of touch olfactory organs sense of smell

Thorax Three pairs of legs. The thorax has three segments. Each segment has one pair of legs. Note: Some larvae have leg-like appendages on the abdomen. Often one or two pairs of wings. The wings are borne by the second and/or third of the thoracic segments. Note: Some insects are wingless.

Abdomen The gonopore (genital opening) is at the posterior end of the abdomen. No appendages used for moving on the abdomen of adults (except in a few primitive insects). Sometimes there are some appendages at the end of the abdomen.

Insect Mouthparts Siphoning/Proboscis Ex. butterfly Sponging/Lapping Ex. housefly

Piercing/Sucking Ex. Mosquito Chewing Ex. caterpillars None Ex. mayfly

Mouthparts Animation http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/labs/external_anatomy/anatomy_mouthparts.html

The Scientific Method 1. Problem/Question 2. Research 3. Hypothesis 4. Experiment 5. Conclusion 6. Report Results

Problem / Question Which insect mouthpart absorbs the largest volume of liquid in a given period of time; siphoning, piercing/sucking, or lapping?

“I think”, “I predict” or “My hypothesis is”! Which mouthpart do you think will absorb the most liquid in 30 seconds? Sample: The Siphoning mouthpart will absorb the most liquid in 30 seconds. Siphoning is a lot like using a straw and liquid can be obtained quickly using this method. DO NOT START A HYPOTHESIS WITH . . . “I think”, “I predict” or “My hypothesis is”!

The Experiment Independent Variable: Type of mouthpart Dependent Variable: Volume of liquid Constants: What was kept consistent/same? List at least 5 factors. Control Group: N/A Experimental Group: Mouthpart types (3)

Other Experimental Factors Materials How much? Use metric units. Procedure List numerically. Be detailed. Results: Data Table Used to organize data. Results: Graph Used to visualize and analyze data. Bar/column graph, line graph or pie chart

Data Collection Data Table: Volume of liquid absorbed in 30 seconds. Lab Group Siphoning (ml) Piercing (ml) Sponging (ml) 1   2 3 4 5 6

Data Analysis (Sample Data Table)   Siphoning (mL) Piercing (mL) Sponging (mL) Individual Average 12 8 28 Period Average 14 11 31 Team Average 9 10 27

Data Analysis (Sample Graph)

Analysis & Conclusion Make a statement revealing whether the data collected provided support for or against the hypothesis. Explain the data collected including specific numerical or observational data from the experiment. Provide a reasonable explanation for the data and attempt to make connections based on the data collected. What future experiments could be done based on the data collected or how could the experiment be extended to collect more data?