Proposal Title: Micro Gravity Mealworms!

Grade Level of Student Team: Fourth Grade

Submitting School: Open Window School (OWS)

Submitting Teacher Facilitator: Kellie Dyer, Jennifer Flaningam, Trista Bamer, Hannah
Blacksin, and Randy Holinger

Position: 4th Grade Teacher and Lower School Science Teacher

Proposal Summary:

The International Space Station will have a stable microgravity environment, in which we can
grow Tenebrio moiltor. On Earth we will have 3 isolated Tenebrio moiltor as in space. We will
have them isolated because it induces pupation rather than being condensed. We are also
concerned that the Tenebrio molitor might eat each other if one of them progresses into the larva
or adult stage while the others are still in the pupa stage. Before the time in space we will weigh
all of them. After the experiment we will weigh and compare the 3 Tenebrio moiltor on Earth
and in space, to see the progress in weight from beginning to end. Our experiment is to see if
three Tenebrio moiltors can get into pupa and go into its darkling beetle stage in micro gravity. If
they don’t get to the beetle stage, then we will weigh the pupa. Why we chose this experiment
was because the Tenebrio moiltor is small and can fit the requirements and can change to its
darkling beetle stage without difficulties on Earth. The outside will be wrapped in dark paper
because Tenebrio moiltor transforms better in the dark. The outcome of this experiment could
end with beneficial information. We hope that at the end of the experiment, Tenebrio moiltor
could maybe if they go into the darkling beetle stage in space, they could provide a helpful
protein sorce to future astronauts.
II. Student Team Members Page

Name: Nami
Grade level: Fourth Grade

Name: Trude
Grade level: Fourth Grade

Name: Julia
Grade level: Fourth Grade

If you are using a Type 3 FME Mini lab

Volume 1
List each fluid/solid to be used and the amount of each sample:
One large larva, (male or female)
One tiny slice of apple and a tiny slice of banana peel

One larva in each space between the clamps on the stopper we will label “1”

Volume 2
One large larva, (male or female)
One tiny slice of apple and banana peel

Volume 3
One large larva, (male or female)
One tiny slice of apple and banana peel
III. Experiment Materials and Handling Requirements Pages
u

IMPORTANT: Are any of the proposed samples human in origin? (check one):
☐ Yes
■ No
If “Yes”, see the Mission 9 Mini-Laboratory Operation webpage for details on the tests that
your team must perform on the human samples before the experiment can be selected for flight,
and explain below the results or the current status of these tests.
Special Handling Requirements During Transportation
As they come back from space
No special handeling

Provide Below Your Proposed Timeline of Crew Interactions:

Proposed Experiment Timeline of Crew Interactions Aboard ISS

Crew Interaction Day Interaction Inscription

On arrival at ISS A=0 Do nothing

During first week A+2 Do nothing
Two weeks of prior undock U-14 Do nothing
In week of prior undock U-5 Do nothing
In week of prior undock U-2 Do nothing
IV. The Question to be Addressed by the Experiment

What is the effect of micro gravity on Tenebrio molitor development from the pupa to the darkling
beetle stage?

From our research we have learned

• Tenebrio moiltor can transform to their darkling beetle stage
• Tenebrio moiltor eat all finds of decaying and rotten fruits and vegetables
• Tenebrio moiltors can lay up to hundreds of eggs in their adult lifetime
• Tenebrio moiltors shed their dead skin
• Tenebrio moiltors help with composting but are sometimes considered pests due to that
they are sometimes found in refrigerator digesting fruit
• Tenebrio moiltors eyes are poorly developed and they aren't that good at walking, either,
for their legs are used for digging
• Tenebrio moiltors store fat from their food to help them transform to their beetle stage
• Tenebrio moiltors eat sometimes their own eggs
V. Experiment Design

Experiment Rationale:
Our question is: How does microgravity affect the Tenebrio moiltor development from the pupa
stage to the darkling beetle?
Our experiment will answer this question because we will have a colony of Tenebrio moiltor on
Earth and record the progress and compare when the Tenebrio moiltor gets back.

Experimental Analysis: When our experiment returns to Earth, we will compare the three
female Tenebrio moiltors to another Tenebrio moiltor and see which ones thrives/lives and if
there are any differences.

Experimental Materials
Tenebrio moiltors (one on earth and 3 in space)
One tiny slice of apple
One tiny piece of a banana peal
Raw oats

These materials were acquired from

Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Petco

The Experimental Procedure:

There are no additional steps needed.

Will your experiment on the ground be done at the same time as the experiment on the
ISS? Tell how this will work. The Tenebrio moiltor being formed on earth will be with
the same food, and type of habitat.

Experimental Analysis:
Once the colony of beetles gets back to earth we will compare the development between
the “Space Tenebrio moiltor” and “Earth Tenebrio moiltor. We won’t touch the
mealworms and habitats will be the same as the one”
VI. List of Reference Publications

http://mealwormcare.org/

http://www.fao.org/3/i3253e/i3253e06.pdf

http://https//www.wikihow.com/wikiHowTo?sea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_PohYVrHFo

And a special thanks to Dr. Peterson who helped answer our questions.