Experiment+2+-+Wet+vs.+Dry

__Wet surface __


Find out if mealworms prefer wet or dry environments. Place mealworms in a tin pie plate covered with paper towel (half wet, half dry)

**//Hypothesis://** Mealworms prefer dry environments.

**//Prediction://** When placed on a piece of paper towel that is half wet and half dry,the mealworms will congregate to the dry portion of the paper towel.

**//Materials://** Tin pie plate, paper towel (1 sheet, divided in half), water

**//Procedure://** We performed this experiment on eight mealworms. We covered half of a tin pie plate with dry paper towel and covered the remaining half with wet paper towel. We placed all eight mealworms at the center of the pie plate. We then observed the behaviour of the mealworms and their tendency to congregate to one side of the pie plate.

**//Controlled variables://** Temperature, time (2 minutes), location (tin pie plate)

**//Responding Variables://** Behaviour of the mealworms (tendency to congregate to one side of the pie plate i.e. wet or dry location)

Manipulated variable: Paper towel (half wet, half dry)

**//Observations//**: At the end of this time period, five mealworms remained on the dry portion of the pie plate and three remained on the wet portion. Their primary goaled appeared to be hiding from the light.

**//Conclusions/comments://** We do not feel that the experiment is sufficient to conclude that mealworms prefer dry over wet environments, despite the fact that the majority of the mealworms congregated to the dry portion of the pie plate. Further observation is required. Throughout this experiment, the mealworms attempted to find a way under the paper towel, likely to escape the light.