Audrey Pearson, Abbie Kent,

Emma Clawson, Keaton Adams

Mealworm Proposal
Questions:
After shedding, do mealworms utilize their skin or leave it be?
Materials:
(X4 materials are per person)
2 mealworms
2 cocoons
Enclosed living environment with cornmeal
Tweezers
Rubber gloves
Length of time needed:
1 month (October 25)
Procedure:
1. Obtain materials
2. Record initial observations science notebook via personal website or paper copy.
a. Taking a picture of the living environment will help to see a beginning and
end picture.
3. Once every day, observe the environment and record observations in science
notebook
a. Make sure to take pictures of what you observe at least once a week so in
the end you can make conclusions.
b. This part can be a timely process and may end here if the cocoon does not
shed.
4. Once the cocoon is shredded
a. Audrey & Keaton remove the skin/shell from environment
b. Emma & Abbie leave environment as is
5. Observe once a day and watch for reactions from the beetle.

General Questions:
What happens to the skin mealworms shed?
Investigable Question:
After shedding, do mealworms utilize their skin or leave it be?
Independent Variable:
Leaving the skin in the environment or removing it after shedding

Controlled Variable:
Keeping the skin in the environment
Dependent Variable:
How the beetle reacts to either the presence or absence of the skin
How will the results be used to answer the questions?
We will be able to compare results based off the reactions (or lack of
communication) of the beetles