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SYEFEST Activity: Color Bugs
Hope College, 1994
Holland, Michigan
Contributor: Kathy Winnett-Murray
Starter Question: What colors are different kinds of insects attracted to
and why might this be so?
Elementary Curriculum Objectives: For Michigan Essential Goals and
Objectives for Science Education (K-12): Constructing New and Reflecting
on Scientific Knowledge; Using Scientific Knowledge - Life Science -
Organization of Living Things, Evolution, and Ecosystems.
Ecology Themes: Perception and Scale; Interactions between Individuals and
their Environment.
Grade Level: All. Older children can handle the Tanglefoot smearing on
their own, but teachers should plan to pre-smear sticky traps for children
K-2.
Materials:
- Tanglefoot, available in nurseries or the garden section of most larger
department stores. The spray is easiest and cleanest and goes on smoothly
(1-2 cans) Or if spray is not available, Tanglefoot spread (has the
consistency of spun honey) (1 or 2 tubs). If the students will spread
Tanglefoot themselves, divide the spread into 1 container (margarine
tubs)/group with just a few tablespoons in each container.
- 1 plastic knife inside one recycled plastic bag/group (if students are
spreading the Tanglefoot themselves).
- Poster paper in various colors (white, red, yellow, green, blue, brown,
your choice) cut into strips about 10" long x 5" wide. The exact
dimensions are not important as long as they are all the same size. You
will need either one paper strip of each color/group (if each group will
investigate all colors) OR one strip in one color/group (if each group will
investigate one color).
- Plastic wrap - 1 roll.
- Staplers - up to 1 stapler per group.
- Data sheets or classroom data chart.
- Hand magnifiers - 1/group or more.
- Insect identification guides or handouts OR have the children invent
names for different kinds of insects.
Procedure:
- Assign each group of students a color or a set of colors to investigate.
- Ask your class to predict what color of sticky trap will attract the
most insects and WHY they think so. If appropriate for your grade level,
ask the students if different colors will attract different kinds of
insects and WHY they think so.
- Prepare sticky traps after marking one side (the white side if colored
on only one side) with the group name. First, ROLL the rectangle into a
short tube with the marked side on the inside and staple the ends closed,
overlapping about 1 inch on the end. Next, have each group select a
location where they will hang their trap over a tree branch or other
structure where it will be secure enough to not blow away. The traps
should all be placed at about the same height and in about the same kind of
habitat. Third, use the plastic knives to smear a THIN, EVEN layer of
Tanglefoot on the colored side of the poster paper rectangle while holding
the stapled section. LEAVE ABOUT ONE INCH BARE ON THE STAPLED END TO HOLD
ON TO so your fingers don't get sticky!
- Hang up the traps and leave in place for 24 hours. This is not a good
activity to do if rain is expected overnight.
- Sticky plastic knives go back in the bags and discarded.
- At the time of retrieval, each group removes their color trap, holding
the uncoated & stapled edge. Gently OPEN the trap at the staples to form a
flat rectangle once again.
- Cover each trap with a layer of plastic wrap; staplers can be used
around the edges to keep the plastic wrap in place as needed.
- Each group counts the number of insects of each variety on their sticky
trap and records this information on a data sheet AND/OR the classroom data
chart.
- Compare and discuss the similarities and differences between the
students' predictions and the actual data, and the possible reasons for
different color preferences in different insects.
Follow-up:
Using sticky traps all of one color (perhaps the one determined to be the
most popular in the above exercise), compare the variety of insects that
are captured in different portions of the schoolyard and under different
environmental conditions. E.g. Which sticky traps catch more insects, and
why: Traps high on branches vs. traps on the ground? Traps in windy areas
vs. traps in calm areas? Traps in thick vegetation vs. traps in open areas?
Traps placed in different kinds of trees? During what season or what
weather conditions are the most insects captured on sticky traps, and why
do you think so? At what time of day are most insects captured on sticky
traps and why do you think so? Select one insect species, research its
natural history FIRST, and then try to predict what color sticky trap will
attract the most individuals of that species.
References:
Dr. Kathy Winnett-Murray; Department of Biology; Hope College.
For help in insect identification: Dr. Harvey Blankespoor and Dr. Allen
Brady (Hope College Biology Department); Gordon VanWoerkem (Birder's World,
Holland, MI).
Please post any questions or comments in our Color Bugs forum. We'd love to hear from you!
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