Life in side an AcornLife in side an AcornAcorn Weevil LabAcorn Weevil Lab

Life inside an acornLife inside an acorn

What do you know about oak trees& acorns?What do you know about oak trees& acorns? There is a whole world that we overlook There is a whole world that we overlook

everyday & we will discover this wonderful everyday & we will discover this wonderful world with this labworld with this lab

BE EXCITED!!!!!! WOOT WOOT!BE EXCITED!!!!!! WOOT WOOT!

Acorn InsectsAcorn Insects Over 100 species of insects feed on the nuts of North Over 100 species of insects feed on the nuts of North

American treesAmerican trees including acornsincluding acorns

produced by oaks. produced by oaks. We will be focusing on the interactions of:We will be focusing on the interactions of:

acorn weevilsacorn weevils acorn mothacorn moth filbertwormfilbertworm Wasps Wasps

These insects destroy so many nuts that it is difficult for trees These insects destroy so many nuts that it is difficult for trees to reproduce. to reproduce.

Acorn Acorn WeevilWeevil

1/2 inch long1/2 inch long have snouts with small, saw like teeth. have snouts with small, saw like teeth. two types of acorn weeviltwo types of acorn weevil

the long-snouted acorn weevilsthe long-snouted acorn weevils snout equal to or greater than length of body.snout equal to or greater than length of body. Eat acorns still attached to treeEat acorns still attached to tree

short-snouted onesshort-snouted ones snout is ½ or less than its bodysnout is ½ or less than its body Eat Acorns fallen on groundEat Acorns fallen on ground

Life cycle of Life cycle of WeevilWeevil

Legless, grub-like acorn weevil larvae hatch from Legless, grub-like acorn weevil larvae hatch from eggs a few days after they are laid.eggs a few days after they are laid.

Go through five growth stages, or instars. Go through five growth stages, or instars. a few weeks, larvae chew their way out of the acorn, a few weeks, larvae chew their way out of the acorn,

burrow into the soil to pupate burrow into the soil to pupate eventually emerge as adults in 1 or more years. eventually emerge as adults in 1 or more years.

Life Cycle of Acorn MothLife Cycle of Acorn Moth The grayish female acorn moths lay eggs in damaged The grayish female acorn moths lay eggs in damaged

acornsacorns sometimes from the holes of acorn weevil larvae. sometimes from the holes of acorn weevil larvae.

It's easy to distinguish the acorn moth larva from It's easy to distinguish the acorn moth larva from acorn weevil larvae. acorn weevil larvae.

The acorn moth larva has three pairs of legs near the The acorn moth larva has three pairs of legs near the head & is generally longer than the legless, fat larvae head & is generally longer than the legless, fat larvae of acorn weevils. of acorn weevils.

Acorn moth Larva feed on acorns & on the fungi that Acorn moth Larva feed on acorns & on the fungi that often grow in damaged acorns. often grow in damaged acorns.

They usually pupate inside the acorns They usually pupate inside the acorns

Caterpillars & MothCaterpillars & Moth

Life Cycle of FilbertwormLife Cycle of Filbertworm

The filbertwormis a moth whose larvae closely The filbertwormis a moth whose larvae closely resemble the acorn moth, is also often found in resemble the acorn moth, is also often found in acoms. acoms. Acorn moth attacks acorns on the groundAcorn moth attacks acorns on the ground the filbertworm attacks developing acorns on the the filbertworm attacks developing acorns on the

trees. trees.

Gall WaspsGall Wasps

Adult females lay their eggs in female flowers Adult females lay their eggs in female flowers of oaks in the springof oaks in the spring causes galls-abnormal growths of plant tissue, causes galls-abnormal growths of plant tissue,

Gall wasp larvae live in and feed on the plant Gall wasp larvae live in and feed on the plant tissue inside the galls. tissue inside the galls.

External galls drop off the acorns in the External galls drop off the acorns in the autumn. autumn.

HypothesisHypothesis

I think, ____ out of 3 acorns will be infestedI think, ____ out of 3 acorns will be infested

because________________________________because________________________________

Remember there is no right or wrong in science, Remember there is no right or wrong in science, just educated guesses based on knowledgejust educated guesses based on knowledge

MaterialsMaterials

3 Acorns3 Acorns StringString RulerRuler PliersPliers

LAB ProcedureLAB Procedure1.1. Find 3 Acorns outsideFind 3 Acorns outside2.2. Draw a picture of your 3 acornsDraw a picture of your 3 acorns3.3. Measure & record the 3 acorns’Measure & record the 3 acorns’

Diameter-width around acorn (string & Diameter-width around acorn (string & ruler)ruler)

Weight-in gramsWeight-in grams4.4. Crack open acorn and search the “meat”Crack open acorn and search the “meat”5.5. Record if it is “Infested” or “Not Infested”Record if it is “Infested” or “Not Infested”

If infested, record if weevil larva or If infested, record if weevil larva or caterpillars larvacaterpillars larva

Data (#s)Data (#s)

Acorn Acorn DrawingDrawing

Diameter in Diameter in mmmm

Weight in Weight in gramsgrams

Infected/Not Infected/Not InfectedInfected

CalcuationsCalcuations

Class TallyClass Tally Infected/Not infectedInfected/Not infected Figure %Figure % # Infested/Total acorns# Infested/Total acorns

ConclusionConclusion

Was your hypothesis supported of rejected?Was your hypothesis supported of rejected? What are some sources of possible error?What are some sources of possible error? If we were to repeat the experiment, name 1 If we were to repeat the experiment, name 1

thing you would do differentlything you would do differently What is something new you learned?What is something new you learned?

New QuestionsNew Questions

Come up with 3 new questions on the Acorn Come up with 3 new questions on the Acorn Weevil LabWeevil Lab