Week 5-6

Week 5 - Pupae stage still existed.  Pupae were stored in a cage and exposed to light and dark at regular daily interval.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO1YT2HEXnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmkAi3T43ao

Week 6 - We have video of both male and female sphinx moths.  In general sphinx moths are about 2 - 8 inches in length.  Below are pictures and  a brief video describing the moths in a little more detail.  Our actual moth has not emerged to date.  We do not expect our original moth to emerge due to its mutation.

Below are more videos and pictures of our tobacco hornworm project/lab.



Tobacco Hornworm Week 4

Week 4

04/07/2011 --Removed hornworm from the container, currently in the pupa stage; our purpose is to document it's progression.  However, there appears to be mutation in the area of the eye and tongue case.  Upon a gentle touch with the finger the abdomen did move.  With the advisement of our professor we replaced the hornworm back into the container for a later photo and to document its survival.  We were also provided with another pupa whose form was textbook. 

Description: Aside from the mutation the pupa was brown, hard and spindle shaped.  Due to mutation there was no "handle". 

Residence: In nature pupae would be buried beneath the soil.  In the lab the pupa was kept in a dark incubator at a constant temperature of 72 degrees F, within newspaper wrapped container.

Tobacco Hornworm wk 3

Week 3

03/29/2011 - Removed hornworm from tube; measurement: 6.5 cm and "fatter".  Hornworm had burrowed in the food in preparation to pupate.  Upon removal from tube hornworm was sluggish.  It had developed a dorsal blood vessel, appearing as a black line, down the length of its back.  Completely cleaned the tube of any food and feces replacing it with mulch.  Replaced the hornworm back into the tube.  Due to time the professor wrapped the tubes with newspaper and stored the hornworm in a dark drawer.

03/31/2011 - Quickly removed the hornworm from the tube, no measurements were taken.  Hornworm was slightly "J" shaped; nonmotile.  Took picture and video of observation with brief comment.  Replaced hornworm back into tube and replaced newspaper covering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltOAYdOhJFs

Tobacco Hornworm wk 2

Week 2

03/22/2011 - Removed the hornworm from tube; measurement: 3cm.  The horn on the posterior region of the worm is brown.  A sketch was made as was done also in the first week.  Obvious 10 smaller legs and 3 bigger legs in thoracic region.  Looked under dissecting microscope for more detailed characteristics.  Removed feces from the tube and replaced the hornworm back into the tube under constant light.

03/24/2011 - Removed the hornworm from the tube; measurement: 6 cm.  Hornworm appears "fatter".  Another sketch was made.  Feces was removed from the tube.  Took more photos and a video of the hornworm before replacing in the tube and back under the light.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwZ3DTIwujo

Tobacco Hornworm wk 1

Week 1

03/17/2011 - Hornworm provided by instructor and was named Knucklehead.  The length was 2 cm and the hornworm was photographed.  The hornworm was placed in a culture tube containing prepared food, sealed and placed under a lamp.

Project members:  Carmen, Charles and Adam