Bean Discrimination Experiment for Reproduction of Bean Beetles

Bean Discrimination Experiment for Reproduction of Bean Beetles

Michele Ramsey

Lynette Hauser

BIO 102. L08P

I. Introduction

Bean beetles, also known as Callosobruchus maculatus are pest insects that originated from the regions of Africa, Asia and through the tropical world. These bean beetles do not require water or food in their short life span but instead spend their time mating and reproducing. In the female’s reproduction cycle, bean beetles lay their single fertilized eggs on the surface of beans which helped them adapted the name bean beetles. When these beetles lay the eggs, they are firmly glued on the surface these beans that ensure they are able to hatch. In this experiment, we are trying to decide how bean beetles determine which bean female beetles chooses to lay their eggs.

In the concept of this experiment, the hypothesis is concluded that the female beetles to determine the bean she wants to lay her eggs on by color. Of the three samples of bean, I speculate that female beans beetles will hatch her eggs on the surface of the lima for the fact that it has color and it can protect the bean beetles from preators. In this lab experiment, it is being tested how bean beetles choose the beans they will lay their eggs on. The goal in this experiment is to determine which bean will have the most bean beetle eggs.

II. Material

1. Live cultures containing adult bean beetles (2 males and 2 females)

2. Petri Dish

3. Three types of beans: 8 mung beans, 8 lima beans, 8 black beans

4. Paint Brush

5. Incubator

Variables

1. Independent variable

a. Type of beans

2. Dependent variable

a. Number of eggs

3. Standard variables

a. Type of beetles

b. Amount of time

c. Dry beans

d. Number of beans

e. Number of beetles

f. Temperature

g. Container size

h. Number of each type of bean

4. Control

a. Mung Beans

III. Procedure

To begin this procedure, it is best to have a week to allow this experiment to work....