Hot Ladybugs

Overview

Objectives/Goals This experiment's goal is to determine the positive and/or negative effects of heat on ladybugs' speed, strength, flight, and activity. Methods/Materials 1,200 ladybugs were tested in 6 groups 200. Each group was placed in a terrarium with a reptile heater placed at a fixed height above the tank to radiate a certain temperature, either 70°F, 80°F, 90°F, 100°F, 110°F, or the control group, which was placed separate from the other tanks, temperature the same as the room#s. Ladybugs were under these conditions for 4 days in Trial 1 and 8 days in Trial 2. Results In the end, the highest average ladybug activity was in the 80°F, the highest average ladybug speed was in the 110°F tank, the highest average ladybug strength was in the control tank, the 70°F tank, and the 80°F tank all tied, and the highest average ladybug flight was in the 110°F tank. The lowest average ladybug activity was in the control tank and the 100°F tanks. The lowest average ladybug speed was in the 70° tank. The lowest average ladybug strength was in the 110°F tank. The lowest average ladybug flight was in the control tank, 70°F tank, 80°F tank, and 90°F tank. Conclusions/Discussion In higher temperatures, the ladybugs moved faster and flew more often. In higher temperatures ladybugs also grew weaker; they fell off the sides and ceilings of the tanks more often. Ladybug activity was the highest at 80°F, and the colder the temperature, the less ladybugs move. It is clear that although heat speeds the chemical reactions that give the ladybugs energy (as they are cold-blooded) and causes the ladybugs to move faster and fly more, although the adhesion is then lessened.

Competition history

• CSEF 2008 Pharmacology/ Toxicology · Entry J1535

Resources

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