The Effect of Caffeine on the Survival and

Development of Mealworms By: Anna Gillin

How does caffeine effect the growth, survival, and development of mealworms?

Question

Caffeine (C8H10N4O2) is a drug that stimulates the nervous system

It gives consumers an increase in energy and can elevate mood

Caffeine is added to drinks and foods

Side effects vary according to consumer

Research - Caffeine

Mealworms are the larva stage of the Darkling Beatle

Mealworms are part of the Tenebrio Genus and the T. molitor species

The larval stage of mealworms can last from 90 up to 114 days

As mealworms grow, they shed old shells and develop new ones.

Research - Mealworms

The group of mealworms exposed to high levels of caffeine will lose more mass and have a higher death rate than the groups exposed to lower levels of caffeine.

Hypothesis

500 milligrams caffeine 100 milligrams caffeine 135 mealworm larvae Square plastic

containers Metal screens Distilled Water

Materials Wheat Bran Corn meal Shredded Newspaper Mortar and Pestle Digital Balance

The mealworms were divided into 3 groups: ◦ Group A (no caffeine)◦ Group B (low caffeine)◦ Group C (high caffeine)

15 mealworms were put into each box The following solutions were made:

◦ Group A: 100 mL of distilled water◦ Group B: 100 mgs ( ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL of

distilled water ◦ Group C: 500 mgs (2 ½ caffeine pill) in 100 mL

of distilled water

Procedure

50 mL of the solutions were mixed with 50 grams of wheat bran and 50 grams of cornmeal

The mass and survivors were measured after a week and new bedding, solutions, and food mixtures were made

The length of the experiment lasted 4 weeks

Procedure

Independent Variable- the amount of caffeine given to each group of mealworms

Dependent Variable- the effects that caffeine had on each group of mealworms and the number of mealworms still living

Control- the group of mealworms (Group C) that was not exposed to caffeine and only had food moistened by water

Constants- the type of container, metal screen, temperature, food, bedding in the container, and amount of mealworms in each group

Variables

Data

Data

Data

Data

Group A Group B Group C0

5

10

15

20

25

Mealworm Mortality Over 4 Weeks

Num

ber

of

Death

s

Data

Group A Group B Group C

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Percent Change in Meal-worm Mass Over 4 Weeks

Perc

ent

Change in M

ass

Graph 1 Graph 2

ttest (Group A, Group B) 0.034

ttest (Group A, Group C) 0.035

ttest (Group B, Group C) 0.184

Data ttest of the Number Dead

ttest of the Percent Change in Mass Ttest (Group A, Group B) 0.306

Ttest (Group A, Group C) 0.088

Ttest (Group B, Group C) 0.708

Ttest (Group A, Group B) .530

Ttest (Group A, Group C) .916

Ttest (Group A, Group C) .297

ttest of the Percent Change in Mass/Organism

The hypothesis stated that the mealworms exposed to higher levels of caffeine would lose more mass and have a higher death rate

The hypothesis was partially supported because caffeine had a negative effect on mealworms

It was rejected that varying levels of caffeine have different effects on mealworms

Conclusion

The temperature should remain constant

A different source of food should be used

The environment should remain consistent

Improvements

Different organisms could be tested with caffeine

The same experiment could be performed for the mealworms in their adult form as beetles

A wider range of caffeine levels could be used to see if different amounts of caffeine have the same effects

Further Studies

Mealworm Store. (n.d.). Mealworm Facts and Information. In Mealworm Facts and Information. Retrieved 2007, from Mealworm Store website: http://mealwormstore.com/ mealworm_info.php

Smith Life Science. (2009, September 29). Mealworm Diagram. In Mealworms. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from Smith Life Science website: http://www.smithlifescience.com/ MLMealworms.htm

University of Arizona. (1997). Darkling Beetle/ Mealworm Information . Retrieved October 21, 2010, from Center for Insect Science Education Outreach website: http://insected.arizona.edu/ mealinfo.htm

Majithia, N. (2008). Caffeine: Understanding the World’s Most Popular Psycoactive Drug. Retrieved October 7, 2010, from Journal of Young Investigators website: http://www.jyi.org/ features/ ft.php?id=1327

Gavin, M. L., & Black, J. D. (2008). Caffeine. Retrieved October 19, 2010, from The Nemours Foundation website: http://kidshealth.org/ teen/ drug_alcohol/ drugs/ caffeine.html#

Kovacs, B., & Stoppler, M. C. (n.d.). Caffeine. In Caffeine [Caffeine, Health Effects, Statistics]. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from MedicineNet website: http://www.medicinenet.com/ caffeine/ article.htm

Lieberman, H. R., Tharion, W. J., Shukitt-Hale, B., Speckman, K. L., & Tulley, R. (n.d.). Biomedical and Life Sciences. In Effects of Caffeine on Sleep loss, and Stress on Cognitive Performance and Mood During U.S. Navy SEAL Training [Caffeine, Effects ]. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from SpringerLink website: http://www.springerlink.com/ content/ 2bjn0v6dg712phw5/

Works Cited

Please feel free to ask any questions regarding my experiment.

Thank You