Background Information

My eighth grade life science class will be studying arthropods during November. We will be discussing different ecological roles of insects and structural variations. Since mouthparts are key to the way in which arthropods feed and how we go about classifying them, I would like to focus our Bugscope viewing on mouthpart variations. I anticipate using a number of online resources which show drawings of different types of mouthparts, followed by Bugscope examination of mouthparts of a small cricket (chewing mouthparts), a buffalo treehopper or flea (piercing-sucking mouthparts) and a housefly (sponging mouthparts). Specimens will be collected in early fall and will be preserved in 95% ethanol.

Specimens To Be Collected and Viewed

Small cricket (chewing mouthparts), buffalo treehopper or flea (piercing-sucking mouthparts) and housefly (sponging mouthparts).

Follow-Up Activities and Discussion After Viewing Session

Anticipated follow-up activities include discussion of viewing session and viewing of captured images, as well as the evaluation activity outlined below.

Evaluation

Student understanding of structural differences will be assessed by student labeling of laser printed captured images of the different mouthparts and examination of online resources dealing with the biology and ecology of one of the three species. Each student will submit a write-up of the Bugscope and online research components of the activity using the following format: Title, Purpose, Procedure, Data (including captured images), Information Regarding Feeding Method and Role of Mouthparts, Conclusion and Bibliography of Online Resources. Depending on available time, students will have the option of presenting their write-up as a web document or an oral presentation.