What I thought a moth looked like

Online Image of a Moth

Bugscope Image of a Moth’s head

Bugscope Image of Moth Wing Scale

About Moths

The gypsy moth is the most prevalent species of moths in North America. However, they are not native to America, they were brought over first by a French scientist living in Massachusetts. They have become the most devastating forest pest because of the defoliation of forest plants. This is because they feed on foliage of mostly oaks and aspens.

Moths, just like butterflies, lay eggs that hatch as larvae or a caterpillar. They then feed on foliage and grow before they go into a hibernation stage, like the butterfly does in its cocoon. However, the moth’s cocoon is a hairy structure where the butterflies cocoon is not. During this state the larvae undergo a metamorphosis. Then a winged moth breaks out of the cocoon. However, before they can fly they have to let its wings. The male gypsy moth emerges first and flies in a zigzag pattern looking for females. The females emit a substance called pheromone that attracts males. The female lays her eggs in July and August. Then, both adult gypsy moths die. Then the cycle begins again with the next generation.

Moths have many natural enemies. Mostly they include predatory insects such as wasps, flies, beetles, ants and many species of spiders. However, there are many small mammals that threaten the well being of moths such as: some types of birds, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and raccoons.

NSES Standards

• As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop:

-An understanding about science and technology. – Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and

equipment for investigations. They help scientists see, measure, and do things that they could not otherwise see, measure, and do.

• This standard ties into the bugscope project because it demonstrates how things can look different through our own “naked” eye then they do with a microscope. This is important because it allows us to see things in more detail which in turn helps us to make more accurate scientific conclusions. Students need to realize this in order to understand the importance of the scientific method and in general to understand how science is accurate because it uses these technologies that enhance the ability to be accurate.

Authenticity of Technology

Through the use of these types of technologies (microscopes and ESEM) the ability to see all the intricate details of living organisms that is impossible in everyday life is accessed. This creates a whole different perception of these organisms because we are now able to understand them and their function in a completely different light. But it also helps us to understand technology and its place in science, like I discussed with the content standard. These types of technology have the ability to increase the accuracy of science because of there ability to show the in-depth image of things that are not visible without them. This creates a deeper understanding of the organisms and their capabilities. It also enables us to figure out what specific characteristics make them able to carry out their capabilities.

Literature connected to Bugscope

• Using trade books as a form of introduction to a unit on a species.

• Text Sets- a non-fiction book that gives information about a certain species as well as a fiction piece about them to create excitement.

• After completing bugscope students could create their own book on a spices that was looked at on a bugscope session. They could even incorporate images from bugscope.

Bugscope and Other Content Areas

• After completing a bugscope children the content could be used in a creative writing assignment. Incorporating some non-fiction and fiction elements.

• Because of the scale on the bugscope image this could be used as a math lesson to create an image of the species that is a certain size to scale.

• This could also be used as a art project where students draw a cross section of a certain species using the images from the microscope. Then the class can go through and makes guesses about what the species is and what part of it is being depicted based on its characteristics.