Bugscope!Bugscope!

Looking at the typical Looking at the typical Housefly.Housefly.

Deanne AndersonDeanne Anderson

House Fly: the basicsHouse Fly: the basics

Scientific name: Scientific name: Musca domesticaMusca domestica

Have gray body with Have gray body with black stripes along black stripes along thorax.thorax.

Hairy legs with Hairy legs with adhesive pads on feetadhesive pads on feet

Reddish-brown eyesReddish-brown eyes Small: range from Small: range from

1/8”- ¼” in length 1/8”- ¼” in length

Where do they live?Where do they live?

Live in or near houses Live in or near houses and farms around the and farms around the organic waste organic waste products of other products of other living things.living things.

The average life span The average life span ranges from 26 days ranges from 26 days for females and 15 for females and 15 days for males (unless days for males (unless they get swatted at by they get swatted at by people!) people!)

The Housefly’s life cycleThe Housefly’s life cycle

Females can lay up to Females can lay up to around 500 eggs at a around 500 eggs at a time. time.

Eggs hatch in 10-24 Eggs hatch in 10-24 hours. Larvae reach hours. Larvae reach full size in 5 days full size in 5 days emerging as adults emerging as adults about 5 days later. about 5 days later.

They are ready to They are ready to mate within a few mate within a few hours after emerging. hours after emerging.

Special featuresSpecial features

Their mouthparts are Their mouthparts are spongy for lapping up spongy for lapping up liquid food. liquid food.

Adults suck liquids Adults suck liquids containing sweet or containing sweet or decaying substances. decaying substances. Solid food materials Solid food materials are liquefied by means are liquefied by means of regurgitated saliva. of regurgitated saliva.

This liquefied food is This liquefied food is then drawn up by the then drawn up by the mouthparts and mouthparts and passed into the passed into the digestive tract digestive tract

Dangerous nuisance? Dangerous nuisance?

Because of their Because of their attraction to decaying attraction to decaying materials, filth and materials, filth and organic waste, house organic waste, house flies are known to flies are known to spread several spread several diseases including diseases including typhoid fever, cholera, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, pinworm, dysentery, pinworm, hookworms, and some hookworms, and some tapeworms.tapeworms.

Getting a closer look at our Getting a closer look at our friendfriend

You can see more with the hand lens than you can see You can see more with the hand lens than you can see with the naked eye.with the naked eye.

The Dissection Scope gave a more detailed view which I The Dissection Scope gave a more detailed view which I could not properly illustrate in my hand drawing. I saw could not properly illustrate in my hand drawing. I saw the hairs on the body and the color of the eye. the hairs on the body and the color of the eye.

Getting even CLOSERGetting even CLOSER

With the ESEM, you are able to see the fly very close and in fine detail. Here we have the under body, eye facets and the claw on the end of the legs.

The TechnologyThe Technology

Environmental scanning Environmental scanning election microscopy election microscopy (ESEM) is the tool that (ESEM) is the tool that lets us see the bugs very lets us see the bugs very close with a lot of detail.close with a lot of detail.

The microscope sends The microscope sends electrons down on the electrons down on the specimen and when they specimen and when they bounce back they create bounce back they create a 3-dimensional image. a 3-dimensional image.

Why use ESEM in the Why use ESEM in the classroom?/Authenticity classroom?/Authenticity

Digital microscopes allow Digital microscopes allow teachers to enhance a very teachers to enhance a very important childhood learning important childhood learning strategy, that of systematic strategy, that of systematic close-up observation. The close-up observation. The digital microscope digital microscope encourages interaction, encourages interaction, cooperation, and problem cooperation, and problem solving, all important solving, all important elements of exploratory elements of exploratory learning. Research has shown learning. Research has shown that students using that students using sophisticated technologies as sophisticated technologies as everyday learning tools everyday learning tools under the right conditions under the right conditions show growth in workplace show growth in workplace skills, motivation, skills, motivation, engagement, and self-esteem engagement, and self-esteem (WestEd, 2002).(WestEd, 2002).

Ways to use Bugscope.Ways to use Bugscope.

Creative writing Creative writing exercise. exercise.

Learning about Learning about microscopes. microscopes.

Parts/adaptations of Parts/adaptations of insects.insects.

Learn about using Learn about using remote technology. remote technology.

Art projects. Art projects. Connecting to real Connecting to real

scientists/learning to scientists/learning to investigate and ask investigate and ask questions. questions.

Connecting to the NSESConnecting to the NSES

Ch.6 Grades 5-8 Content standard C Ch.6 Grades 5-8 Content standard C Life Science (Diversity and Adaptations of Life Science (Diversity and Adaptations of

Organisms)Organisms) ““Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of

species developed through gradual processes over species developed through gradual processes over many generations. Species acquire many of their many generations. Species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological unique characteristics through biological adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. Biological occurring variations in populations. Biological adaptations include changes in structures, adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment.” reproductive success in a particular environment.”

Connecting to the NSES Connecting to the NSES (cont.)(cont.)

When looking at insect specimens up close with When looking at insect specimens up close with the ESEM, students can see the variations and the ESEM, students can see the variations and “biological adaptations” that are talked about in “biological adaptations” that are talked about in the standard. the standard.

When doing Bugscope, the class can have a When doing Bugscope, the class can have a discussion about why the insects have the certain discussion about why the insects have the certain parts they do and how do they help it survive in parts they do and how do they help it survive in their environment. their environment.

For example, look at the same type of insect (like For example, look at the same type of insect (like flies!) but different species of the insect. flies!) but different species of the insect. Compare each species’ adaptations for survival Compare each species’ adaptations for survival (like mouthparts, eyes and legs). (like mouthparts, eyes and legs).

More info about bugs for More info about bugs for kids!kids!

National Audubon National Audubon Society First Field Society First Field Guide: Insects. (Lots of Guide: Insects. (Lots of info on every type of info on every type of bug! Great reviews.) bug! Great reviews.)

Insects: A Golden Insects: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Guide from St. Martin's Press (Great for Press (Great for younger learners.)younger learners.)

Eyewitness Insect (Kids Eyewitness Insect (Kids love the Eyewitness love the Eyewitness series. They all have series. They all have great colorful, realistic great colorful, realistic pictures.)pictures.)

SourcesSources

http://www.bugyman.com/http://www.bugyman.com/slflies2.htmslflies2.htm

Http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/Http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/flies/house_fly.htmflies/house_fly.htm