Experiment+1+-+Different+Textures

__ **Different Textures** __



Determine if mealworms prefer certain textures over others. **//Hypothesis://** Mealworms will move towards one particular texture as opposed to other textures.

**//Prediction://** We predict that the mealworms will move towards the shredded newspaper because it provides more shelter than the other materials.

**//Materials://** 2 pie plates, shredded newspaper, shredded wax paper, shredded chip bag, toothpicks.

**//Procedure://** We performed this experiment using 8 mealworms with four in each pie plate. The newspaper, wax paper, chip bag, and toothpicks where sectioned out in each pie plate. The mealworms were then placed in the middle of the pie plate so they were an equal distance away from the materials. At the two minute time mark, the location of the mealworms were noted and then again at three and a half minutes.

**//Controlled variables://** Temperature, time (3.5 minutes)

**//Responding Variables://** Behavior of the mealworms (which texture they prefer)

**//Manipulated variable://** 2 pie plates, shredded wax paper, shredded chip bag, shredded newspaper, toothpicks.

**//Observations://** When the mealworms were placed in the middle, they immediately began to move towards the various materials. At the two minute time mark, all the mealworms had moved underneath the materials. At three and a half minutes, in the first pie plate, 1 mealworm was in the middle and 3 were in the shredded newspaper. In the second pie plate 1 mealworm was under the newspaper, 1 in the chip bag and 2 in the wax paper.

**//Conclusions/comments://** It appeared that the mealworms in the first pie plate preferred the shredded newspaper but in the second pie plate they were spread out. The only concrete conclusion we can draw from this experiment is that none of the mealworms preferred the toothpicks.