Synopsis

Live animal systems that are easily manipulated and permit rapid data collection would be ideal for teaching non-science majors and introductory-level majors the methods of science. In this study, we use the bean beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, model system to guide students in the development and implementation of an experiment that is an authentic scientific study from which they can easily collect meaningful data.  Bean beetles are agricultural pest insects of Africa and Asia.  Females lay their eggs on the surface of beans (Family Fabaceae) and the entire pre-adult parts of the life cycle occur inside the host bean.  In this study, students design and conduct experiments to evaluate whether female bean beetles discriminate between beans of different sizes within one bean species.

Topic: Reproductive Behavior

Level: Non-majors – Upper-level majors

Class time: one 1-2 hour class period, plus 1 hour class period 48 hours later

Christopher W. Beck¹, Saphida Migabo², and Lawrence S. Blumer³

¹Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322

²Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9 Canada

³Department of Biology, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA 30314