By: Anna Gillin

 How does caffeine effect the growth, survival, and development of mealworms?

 Caffeine (C 8 H 10 N 4 O 2 ) is a drug that stimulates the nervous system  It gives consumers an increase in energy and can elevate mood  Caffeine is added to drinks and foods  Side effects vary according to consumer

 Mealworms are the larva stage of the Darkling Beatle  Mealworms are part of the Tenebrio Genus and the T. molitor species  The larval stage of mealworms can last from 90 up to 114 days  As mealworms grow, they shed old shells and develop new ones.

 The group of mealworms exposed to high levels of caffeine will lose more mass and have a higher death rate than the groups exposed to lower levels of caffeine.

 500 milligrams caffeine  100 milligrams caffeine  135 mealworm larvae  Square plastic containers  Metal screens  Distilled Water  Wheat Bran  Corn meal  Shredded Newspaper  Mortar and Pestle  Digital Balance

 The mealworms were divided into 3 groups: ◦ Group A (no caffeine) ◦ Group B (low caffeine) ◦ Group C (high caffeine)  15 mealworms were put into each box  The following solutions were made: ◦ Group A: 100 mL of distilled water ◦ Group B: 100 mgs ( ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL of distilled water ◦ Group C: 500 mgs (2 ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL of distilled water

 50 mL of the solutions were mixed with 50 grams of wheat bran and 50 grams of cornmeal  The mass and survivors were measured after a week and new bedding, solutions, and food mixtures were made  The length of the experiment lasted 4 weeks

 Independent Variable- the amount of caffeine given to each group of mealworms  Dependent Variable- the effects that caffeine had on each group of mealworms and the number of mealworms still living  Control- the group of mealworms (Group C) that was not exposed to caffeine and only had food moistened by water  Constants- the type of container, metal screen, temperature, food, bedding in the container, and amount of mealworms in each group

Graph 1Graph 2

ttest (Group A, Group B) ttest (Group A, Group C) ttest (Group B, Group C) ttest of the Number Dead ttest of the Percent Change in Mass Ttest (Group A, Group B) Ttest (Group A, Group C) Ttest (Group B, Group C) Ttest (Group A, Group B).530 Ttest (Group A, Group C).916 Ttest (Group A, Group C).297 ttest of the Percent Change in Mass/Organism

 The hypothesis stated that the mealworms exposed to higher levels of caffeine would lose more mass and have a higher death rate  The hypothesis was partially supported because caffeine had a negative effect on mealworms  It was rejected that varying levels of caffeine have different effects on mealworms

 The temperature should remain constant  A different source of food should be used  The environment should remain consistent

 Different organisms could be tested with caffeine  The same experiment could be performed for the mealworms in their adult form as beetles  A wider range of caffeine levels could be used to see if different amounts of caffeine have the same effects

 Mealworm Store. (n.d.). Mealworm Facts and Information. In Mealworm Facts and Information. Retrieved 2007, from Mealworm Store website:  Smith Life Science. (2009, September 29). Mealworm Diagram. In Mealworms. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from Smith Life Science website:  University of Arizona. (1997). Darkling Beetle/‌ Mealworm Information. Retrieved October 21, 2010, from Center for Insect Science Education Outreach website:  Majithia, N. (2008). Caffeine: Understanding the World’s Most Popular Psycoactive Drug. Retrieved October 7, 2010, from Journal of Young Investigators website:  Gavin, M. L., & Black, J. D. (2008). Caffeine. Retrieved October 19, 2010, from The Nemours Foundation website:  Kovacs, B., & Stoppler, M. C. (n.d.). Caffeine. In Caffeine [Caffeine, Health Effects, Statistics]. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from MedicineNet website:  Lieberman, H. R., Tharion, W. J., Shukitt-Hale, B., Speckman, K. L., & Tulley, R. (n.d.). Biomedical and Life Sciences. In Effects of Caffeine on Sleep loss, and Stress on Cognitive Performance and Mood During U.S. Navy SEAL Training [Caffeine, Effects ]. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from SpringerLink website:

 Please feel free to ask any questions regarding my experiment.