The Effect of Environmental Choices on Ladybug Behavior
School Name
Heathwood Hall
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Zoology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to determine ladybug behaviors by examining environmental choices of the ladybug. The experiment began by preparing choice chambers for the coccinellids. Twenty to forty ladybugs were added into the choice chambers with distilled water, the control, being on the “B” end and either distilled water, melon, mustard, or ethanol, levels of the independent variable, on the “A” side of the choice chamber. The ladybugs were given five minutes of undisturbed time. After five minutes, the numbers of ladybugs were counted on both the A and B sides of the choice chamber. After data analysis, it was revealed that the ethanol repelled the highest number of ladybugs and melon attracted the most number of ladybugs. It was hypothesized that if fruit (melon) is inside of the choice chamber, then the taxis of the ladybugs will be greatest. The hypothesis of the experiment was supported because the taxis, or attraction, of the ladybugs was greatest in the melon choice chamber. The results of this experiment are statistically significant, and the variation between the different levels of the dependent variable is the result of the independent variable.
Recommended Citation
Tomlin, Paris, "The Effect of Environmental Choices on Ladybug Behavior" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 266.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/266
Start Date
3-25-2017 11:59 PM
Presentation Format
Written Only
Group Project
No
The Effect of Environmental Choices on Ladybug Behavior
The purpose of this experiment is to determine ladybug behaviors by examining environmental choices of the ladybug. The experiment began by preparing choice chambers for the coccinellids. Twenty to forty ladybugs were added into the choice chambers with distilled water, the control, being on the “B” end and either distilled water, melon, mustard, or ethanol, levels of the independent variable, on the “A” side of the choice chamber. The ladybugs were given five minutes of undisturbed time. After five minutes, the numbers of ladybugs were counted on both the A and B sides of the choice chamber. After data analysis, it was revealed that the ethanol repelled the highest number of ladybugs and melon attracted the most number of ladybugs. It was hypothesized that if fruit (melon) is inside of the choice chamber, then the taxis of the ladybugs will be greatest. The hypothesis of the experiment was supported because the taxis, or attraction, of the ladybugs was greatest in the melon choice chamber. The results of this experiment are statistically significant, and the variation between the different levels of the dependent variable is the result of the independent variable.
