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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344212
Research Project: Identification, Evaluation, and Implementation of Biological Control Agents for Invasive Weeds of Southeastern Ecosystems

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Entomological research in the classroom: the dispersal of biological control agents

Author
item Goode, Ashley
item Halbritter, Dale

Submitted to: The American Biology Teacher
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2017
Publication Date: 4/1/2019
Citation: Goode, A.B., Halbritter, D.A. 2019. Entomological research in the classroom: the dispersal of biological control agents. The American Biology Teacher. 81(4):242-247. https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2019.81.4.242.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2019.81.4.242

Interpretive Summary: Biological experiments involving animals in K-12 classrooms can be time consuming or logistically difficult. Insects are small and easy to obtain, making them suitable for classroom use. Herein, we provide an experiment using insects that will teach students scientific methods and how to develop a hypothesis. The experiment is based on a case study involving an insect used as a biological control agent that targets an invasive weed, and the rigor of the experiment can easily be tailored to different grade levels. Using roughly 1 m2 arenas set up in the classroom, students measure insect jumping or walking distances as a proxy for dispersal capabilities in the field, and more advanced classes can investigate variables that affect jumping or walking distance and direction.

Technical Abstract: Biological experiments involving animals in K-12 classrooms can be time consuming or logistically difficult. Insects are small and easy to obtain, making them suitable for classroom use. Herein, we provide an experiment using insects that will teach students scientific methods and how to develop a hypothesis. The experiment is based on a case study involving an insect used as a biological control agent that targets an invasive weed, and the rigor of the experiment can easily be tailored to different grade levels. Using roughly 1 m2 arenas set up in the classroom, students measure insect jumping or walking distances as a proxy for dispersal capabilities in the field, and more advanced classes can investigate variables that affect jumping or walking distance and direction.