Proposal Title: Melittobia digitata in microgravity

Name: Trista Bamer, Hannah Blacksin, Randy Hollinger, Kellie Dyer and Jennifer Flaningam

Position: 4th Grade Teacher

Proposal Summary

Our project will examine how wowbugs respond to microgravity in the

International Space Station. Our goal is to find how wow bugs grow in
microgravity so we can figure out if we can start life in space. We think that the
wowbugs may show a response to microgravity in their physical appearance or
how long they take to develop. We will examine how the wowbugs grow and
develop while in microgravity compared to on Earth. Both experiments will be
done the same way including the time span and procedure. Also, we will ask the
following questions as we analyze both wowbug populations: Are there any
differences in their appearance? How can our experiment help people learn about
life in microgravity?

Name: Anna Christine Fitzgerald

Grade level: Fourth Grade

Name: Tara Veer

Grade level: Fourth Grade

Name: Delaney Ann Ryan

Grade level: Fourth Grade

III. Experiment Materials and Handling Requirements Pages

Fluids Mixing

Volume 1

List each fluid/solid to be used and the amount of each sample:

We are using wowbug larvae. It’s a solid.

IMPORTANT: Are any of the proposed samples human in origin? (check one):

☐ Yes

■ No

No special handling requirements are needed during transport to the International Space Station.

Once the FME tube has returned to Earth, on the way back it should be in a soft bottle to keep it

from moving.

Provide Below Your Preparation Description

IV. The Question to be Addressed by the Experiment

The question to be addressed is: How does microgravity affect the body and leg growth (size, strength
etc.) of Melittobia digitata

From our research, we have learned…

-95% of wowbugs are female.

- Male wowbugs fight with their brothers and mate with their sisters.

- Males are blind and flightless.

-Wowbugs are stingless parasitic wasps.

With a normal size of 8-10mm

Blowfly:

- The larvae of most blowflies are scavengers that fly order diptera metallic blue, green or black and are
noisy when flying, with a normal size of 8-10mms.

.
[10 mm they are slightly bigger than houseflies, but they resemble them in habits;

- A couple of the important members in this fly group is the screwworm, bluebottle fly, greenbottle fly,
and cluster fly.

-The screwworm is called a screwworm because it has small spines that make them look like screws.

-Greenbottle and bluebottle flies commonly infest carrion or excrement, and the larvae of some species
may kill sheep.

-The adult cluster fly of Europe and North America is sluggish and dark in color. The larvae of Some
Species are parasites of earthworms. In autumn the blowflies gather in safe places to hibernate. They
return outdoors in spring.

Our hypothesis is that the wowbugs on Earth will look different from the wowbugs in
space(microgravity).

V. Experiment Design

Experiment Rationale: Our rationale is

Our question is: How does microgravity affect the size (leg growth etc.).

Our experiment will answer this question because we will have a wowbug that was grown on

earth and a wowbug grown in space so that we can compare.

Experimental Analysis: When our experiment returns to Earth, we will look at the wowbugs

under a microscope, compare their consistency, and observe any changes in color.

Experimental Materials:

Materials used/using

a. 4-5 wowbug larvae

b. 2 Blowfly pupae

1. These materials were chosen, because they are what we need for the experiment. We selected the
above materials, because these were the supplies that our school has access to. By using materials
available at school, we did not have a need to purchase additional items. We didn’t use professional
grade wowbugs, but we predict that they will react the Same way.

2. These materials were acquired from:

a. wowbug larvae- School Science Lab

b. Blowfly pupae- School Science lab

The Experimental Procedure:

● Step One – Put the wowbug larvae and blowfly Pupae in the tube.

● Step Two - Get the experiment to the ISS.

● Step Three - When it arrives at the ISS very gently massage for 5 seconds.

● Step Four – On Day 2 lightly shake the tube for 10 seconds.

● Step Five - On the second day on the ISS massage the ends of the tube for 10 seconds

● Step Six - On the second day after you massage it, gently shake the tube for 10 seconds.

● Step Seven - Send the experiment back to earth.

● Step Eight- Carefully get the experiment to our school science lab.

● Step Nine - Compare the size, appearance, and leg length of the wowbugs.

● Step Ten - Compare the color and anything else that is different about the wowbugs.

● Step Eleven - Write down what is different about the size, leg growth, etc. formed in space and

wowbugs grown on Earth and write what is the same about them.

3. Will your experiment on the ground be done at the same time as the experiment on the

ISS? Tell how this will work. The wowbug being grown on earth will get its clamp released on the same
day as the one in space, and it will be massaged and shook for the same amount of time as the one in
space, and on the same day as the one in space.

Experimental Analysis (steps when the experiment comes back):

1. What are your steps or looking at your results when the experiment comes back?

a. Study the wowbugs that came from space in comparison to the ones from earth.

b. Observe anything else that is different from the experiment on Earth.

c. Put the experiments together and see how they react.

d. Wait 2 hours and see the product.

VI. Sources:
http://entomology.wSu.edu/directory/faculty/brandon-hopkinS/
httpS://www.carolina.com/teacher-reSourceS/Interactive/living-
`organiSm-care-guide-w owbugS/tr10559.tr
httpS://www.britannica.com/animal/blow-fly-inSect