Watching Them Change Based On Temperature

Brianna Burt, Ashley Augustine, & Kimberly Pridgen

Rationale:
We conducted this inquiry
to find how meal worms change
in different temperatures. Our
wondering was inspired after
reviewing research on the ways
that meal worms change and
grow.
Materials & Procedures:
-Each container was the same
size, had 2 heaping plastic
spoons worth of cornmeal, and
had a mealworm of a similar
size.
-Each mealworm was checked
between 6 AM and 7AM for 3
minutes for a 1 week time
period and a picture and
observational notes were kept.
-Containers were placed in three
different temperatures: room
temperature(about 25C),
refrigerator temperature(12C)
and outside
temperature(fluctuated between
12C and 20C)

Data:

Findings & Conclusion:

After observing our meal
worms for seven days, we found
that the meal worm that was kept
in 12 degrees Celsius displayed the
least amount of change. We
observed that this meal worm's
body became lighter, but there was
no visible growth that occurred.
The meal worm that was kept at 25
degrees became darker in color,
and remained most active through
tunneling compared to the others.
Lastly, the meal worm that was
kept in temperatures ranging from
20 degrees Celsius to 7 degrees
Celsius molted his outer shell and
became lighter in color. We
conclude that
the meal worm
Limitations:
changes
when
to
-We
werentmost
sure of
whereexposed
our mealworms
were
in their
life cycle.
ranging
temperatures.
-The outside temperature fluctuated a few
times throughout the week, so we cant be
sure that the changes observed werent
due to that temperature movement.

Resources & References:

-Mealworm: Life Cycles
by Donna Schaffer
-Facts on Mealworms for Kidshttp://animals.pawnation.com/mealworms
-kids-8636.html