By: Claire Mezzanotte

Information about MothsA moth is an insect of the same order as butterflies. There are many different kinds of moths, including about 13,000 species in North America and 165,000 in the world. Moths can be of various sizes, ranging from 2-3 mm to 250 mm. Typically, a female moth is larger than a male. Male moths have elaborate antennae, and the coloration of males and females are different. The life cycle of a moth consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Most species of moths complete their life cycle in about a year. Life spans, however, can range from a few days to several months. What a moth eats depends on what stage it is in. Larvae usually eat plants, and sometimes fabric and stored grains, and adults feed on the nectar of flowers. Moths can typically be found on their food plant, and they can be attracted to lights.

*Sources: bugguide.net; insected.arizona.edu*

First Drawing of a MothMy first drawing of a

moth is very basic. The wings were left blank because typically they appear to be very smooth. I drew some hair on the head since I remember seeing this when I have seen a moth in daily life.

Moth through a dissection scopeThis is the second

picture I drew after viewing a moth through the hand lens and dissection scope. The main thing that changed was the way I saw the wings. I saw through the dissection scope that the wings are actually made up of very little scales that are not apparent when you just glance at a moth. So I added scales to the wings of my drawing.

Bugscope Image This is an image of a moth’s wing

using the Bugscope. We observed that the scales on the moth’s wing are actually filled with very tiny holes. These holes help to make the moth lightweight. Because these holes are so tiny, they are impossible to see with the naked eye, or even with a dissection scope. Therefore, this is something that could not be included on a general drawing.

We learned from the Bugscope session that the pattern of a moth’s scales is genetically controlled and there are variations between individuals. It is hard to know, however, whether the patterns are unique for every moth.

NSES StandardsContent Standard C:

As a result of activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of life cycles of organisms. Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born,

developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms.

Bugs and insects are organisms that have life cycles, so this is a content standard that would be very appropriate for use with Bugscope. Students could learn about the different life stages of an insect (for example, the moth: egg, larvae, pupa, adult), and how the insect is different in each of these stages. The Bugscope could then be used to look at examples of the insect when it is at the different stages in its life cycle.

Authenticity of TechnologyUsing microscopes and Bugscope is a very

authentic use of technology. It allows students to discover and learn about insects by looking at them. Unlike reading a textbook, students get to actually experience looking the bugs and insects firsthand. As a result, they will be more likely to remember what they learned. In a session with the bug experts, students can ask whatever questions they have about what they view through the Bugscope. Also, with Bugscope, students can search for and find their own bugs, and then send them in to look at during their own session. This is authentic because they will know that they are looking at an actual bug that they found themselves.

3 Literature SourcesThe Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric CarleFrom Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah

HeiligmanEye Witness Butterfly and Moth

These three books could be used to supplement a unit on butterflies. These books all talk about butterflies at a different level. The first is a fun book that portrays caterpillars in a positive light. The second would be helpful in discussing the life cycle of a butterfly. And the third is a great reference book for learning facts about butterflies and clearing up misconceptions that students may have.

Bugscope to Other Curricular AreasBugscope could be connected to a curricular

unit on biomes and climate. Students could study what kind of habitats insects live in and then determine what biomes and areas of the world you might find those insects.

In order to expand a unit on insects where the Bugscope is used, students could visit a museum. Museums typically have exhibits where you could view different types of insects from all over the world. Some museums, like the Milwaukee Public Museum, even have butterfly gardens where you can get hands-on experience with butterflies.