By: 1-09

Do caterpillars survive longer when humans manage them or

when they are unmanaged by humans?

I have been growing caterpillars into butterflies for the past year. When
watching and observing the number of caterpillars I noticed that a lot of
the caterpillars were disappearing. I wondered if the number of
caterpillars would be higher if humans interacted and made a different
predator-free environment. Humans have both harmed and helped the
butterfly society. Nearly 1 billion monarch butterflies have vanished
since 1990 as farmers and homeowners sprayed herbicides on
milkweed plants, their sole food source. The USDA was working with
more than 370 students and planted over 1,000 milkweeds in total at all
of their schools. This research shows that while we might be helping
caterpillars and butterflies we are killing them too. If we dont begin
reducing pesticide usage and finding and making butterfly conservation
areas, then the next generation might be the last generation of humans
to ever see a butterfly.

Do caterpillars survive longer when humans manage them or when they are unmanaged by
humans? I have been growing caterpillars into butterflies for the past year. When watching
and observing the number of caterpillars I noticed that a lot of the caterpillars were
disappearing. I wondered if the number of caterpillars would be higher if humans interacted
and made a different predator-free environment. Humans have both harmed and helped the
butterfly society. Nearly 1 billion monarch butterflies have vanished since 1990 as farmers
and homeowners sprayed herbicides on milkweed plants, their sole food source. The USDA
was working with more than 370 students and planted over 1,000 milkweeds in total at all of
their schools. This research shows that while we might be helping caterpillars and butterflies
we are killing them too. If we dont begin reducing pesticide usage and finding and making
butterfly conservation areas, then the next generation might be the last generation of humans
to ever see a butterfly. I hypothesized if caterpillars are in a sheltered area then they will
survive longer than those in the wild because they are protected from the outside
environment. Every day I counted the number of caterpillars and eggs on the plants. I then
graphed my information. I concluded that my hypothesis was half correct because more of
the caterpillars where in the sheltered area instead of in the wild area, but since the
caterpillars in the wild had freedom I was only able to locate one which was on my
familys hibiscus plant.

If caterpillars are in a sheltered area then they will survive longer

than those in the wild because they are protected from the outside
environment.

8 monarch butterfly eggs, 4 milkweed plants for the caterpillars

to eat, a meter stick for measuring the fish tank, 4 pairs of vinyl
gloves for safety, 6 pieces of scrap wood, 3 bricks and 1 fish tank
(30cm x 12.5cm x 12.5cm), otherwise known as the sheltered
area.

1. Get all my materials together.

2. Put 2 eggs on each plant and place 2 plants in the fish tank and 2 plants in a
separate area called the wild.
3. Start my trials on the 1st of October and will continue with 1 trial each afternoon
till the 18th of October.
4. Count how many eggs or caterpillars are in each area each day while watering the
milkweeds with a pitcher when needed.
5. Record my results in my data notebook for that day. This includes the date,
weather, number of caterpillars, if any caterpillars have gone missing and/or if any
caterpillars have showed back up.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 for every trial.

There are some minor hazards that could occur during my

experiment. I will make sure to where gloves at all times during
my experiment, even when preparing my experiment. I will make
sure I do not hit anybody or myself with the meter stick. I will
keep the fish tank on the ground so I do not drop it and break it.

Start or Day 1 9/29/16

Day 3 10/1/16

Day 4 10/2/16

Day 5 10/3/16

Day 10 10/8/16

Day 11
10/9/16

Day 12 10/10/16

Day 16 10/14/16

Found a missing wild caterpillar

Day 20 10/18/16

Near the beginning of the experiment all the

caterpillars were on the plants. Then a few walked off and
some died. After that, all the wild caterpillars walked off
and the caterpillars in the container turned into chrysalises.
After a few days, two of the chrysalises were cooked in the
fish tank and one got the black death. That same day, I found
a wild caterpillar on my familys hibiscus plant. In the end,
plant 3 had the greatest average of caterpillars and plant 1
had the greatest average of eggs.

Living Caterpillars by Day

6

# of Caterpillars

4
3
2
1
0
2

6
Plant 1

10
12
Days Observed
Plant 3

Plant 4

14

16

Plant 2

18

20

# of Caterpillar Eggs

Caterpillar Eggs by Day

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2

6
Plant 1

10
12
Days Observed
Plant 3

Plant 4

14

16

Plant 2

18

20

In conclusion neither being in the wild nor being helped by

humans helped caterpillars survive to be butterflies. I concluded
that my hypothesis was half correct because more of the
caterpillars where in the sheltered area instead of in the wild
area, but since the caterpillars in the wild had freedom I was
only able to locate one which was on my familys hibiscus plant.

1. "Rules for All Projects." Student Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2015. <https://student.societyforscience.org/rules-allprojects>.
2. Kane, By Ethan. "Danaus Plexippus (monarch Butterfly)." Animal Diversity Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.
3. By Making It Easier to Incorporate Milkweed Species into Plantings, Native Plant Nurseries and Their Clients Can Help Create
and Re-establish Suitable Habitats for Monarchs and Other Pollinators. . "USDA Blog Conserving Monarch Butterflies and
Their Habitats." USDA Blog RSS 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.
4. Venture, The Monarch Joint. "Monarch Migration." MJV News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.
5. "As Pesticides Wipe out Monarch Butterflies in the U.S., Illegal Logging Is Doing the Same in Mexico." Washington Post. The
Washington Post, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.
6. Alden, Peter. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Knopf, 1998.236-246. Print.
7. Niering, William A., and Nancy C. Olmstead. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern
Region. New York: Knopf, 1979.350. Print.
8. Neidhoefer, James R. Insect Life. North Brunswick: B.S.A., 1973.8-16. Print.
9. Martin, Marvin, ed. Britannica Junior Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1975.1125. Print.
10. Oram, Raymond F., Paul J. Hummer, and Robert C. Smoot. Biology: Living Systems. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill Pub.,
1973.261-265. Print.
11. Bender, Steve, ed. Southern Living Garden Problem Solver. Birmingham, Ala.: Oxmoor House, 1999.288. Print.
12. Bender, Steve, ed. The Southern Living Garden Book. Birmingham, Ala.: Oxmoor House, 1999.139. Print.
All photos taken by: Peter Fox