Entomology Kit Climate Data Analysis Tutorial

Vandalia Science Education

Updated 2/22/11

Degree-Hour DeterminationKnowns• Bodies discovered at 1:00PM on June 20• Insects collected at 3:00PM on June 20• Weather type (sunny, partly cloudy, overcast)• Weather events (rain, thunderstorms, snow)• Daily average temperature• Male and Female had the same species and lifecycles present

(Migrating 3rd Instar Species A, 2nd Instar Species B)Unknowns• Elapsed degree-hours for each day• Degree-hours for each life stage of both species• Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage of both species• Cumulative elapsed degree hours for each day• Which day the adult insect from both species laid its eggs• Earliest and latest time the insects began developing

Elapsed degree-hours for each day

• The collection time was 3:00PM on June 20, this tells us to multiply the first average temperature by 15 hours instead of 24

• Every other daily average temperature in the month will be multiplied by 24

Lab Procedure 2, Step 2: Determine the number of degree hours for each day using the weather

service data. To do this, multiply the average temperature times 24 hours for each day. This can be

performed in a spreadsheet.

Elapsed degree-hours for each dayDAY MAX MIN AVG DEPAR

-TURE FROM NORMA

L

DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL

HEATING

COOLING

TOTAL

WATER

EQUIV

SNOW-FALL, ICE

PELLETS

SNOW, ICE

PELLETS OR ICE ON

GROUND

AVG SPEED

(MPH)

AVG SPEED (KPH)

SKY COVER SUNRISE-SUNSET

WEATHER OCCURENCE

S

PEAK WIND (KPH)

degree hours

118.3

10.6

16.1 -1.9 -1.0 2.2 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.3 10.08 6 0

S 18.7 386.666667

219.4

12.8

15.0 -3.0 -1.7 3.3 0.0 0.09 0 0 13.8 22.08 6 0

SE 26.2 360

317.2 9.4

12.8 -5.2 -2.9 5.6 0.0 0.19 0 0 17.2 27.52 8 5

SW 33.3

306.666667

420.0

10.6

13.3 -4.7 -2.6 5.0 0.0 0.28 0 0 12.3 19.68 9 1

W 38.6320

521.1

12.8

19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 7 1,2

W 28.3 466.666667

625.6

16.7

20.6 2.6 1.4 0.0 2.2 0.00 0 0 8.1 12.96 6 0

SW 24.3

493.333333

723.9

15.2

19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.07 0 0 6.3 10.08 8 0

S 16.7 466.666667

820.6

12.8

16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 0 0 13.2 21.12 8 0

S 27.9 386.666667

922.1

13.9

18.9 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.00 0 0 4.2 6.72 3 0

SE 10.3

453.333333

1025.0

12.6

16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 8.88

14.208 6 0

S 22.7 386.666667

1122.1 8.9

15.3 -2.7 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.67 0 0 19.6 31.36 6 3,5

S 32.4367.2

1214.5 9.4

10.5 -7.5 -4.2 0.0 0.0 1.13 T 0 23.5 37.6 8 1,3,5

SW 43.8 252

1316.7 7.2

12.1 -5.9 -3.3 0.0 0.0 0.23 0 0 14.2 22.72 7 1,2

S 29.8290.4

1419.3 9.3

15.0 -3.0 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.02 0 0 10.5 16.8 8 1

S 24.5360

1516.5 8.9

12.8 -5.2 -2.9 0.0 0.0 T 0 0 11.9 19.04 4 0

SW 23 306.666667

1618.9

10.7

13.3 -4.7 -2.6 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.4 10.24 3 0

W 19.2320

1716.8 9.5

12.9 -5.1 -2.8 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 9.5 15.2 3 0

S 27.2309.6

1819.4

10.7

16.4 -1.6 -0.9 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 2 0

W 26.3393.6

1919.1

10.9

15.9 -2.1 -1.2 0.0 2.8 0.00 0 0 4.6 7.36 1 0

SW 17.8 381.6

2022.0

12.8

18.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 5.0 0.00 0 0 7.4 11.84 1 0

W 23.1276

                             

Degree-hours for each life stage: Species A

Lab Procedure 2, Step 3: Determine the number of degree hours required for each life stage of both

species. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the degrees Celsius given in the table.

Temp °C Egg 1st Instar

2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar

Migrating 3rd Instar

Pupa

21 21 31 26 50 118 240

21*21 = 441

31*21 = 651

26*21 = 546

50*21 = 1050

118*21 = 2478

240*21 = 5040

Degree-hours for each life stage: Species B

Lab Procedure 2, Step 3: Determine the number of degree hours required for each life stage of both

species. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the degrees Celsius given in the table.

Temp °C Egg 1st Instar

2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar

Migrating 3rd Instar

Pupa

21 25 37 31 60 124 286

25*21 = 525

37*21 = 777

31*21 = 651

60*21 = 1260

124*21 = 2604

286*21 = 6006

Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage: Species A

Lab Procedure 2, Step 4: By adding all the degree hours for each of the six life stages together, you

calculate the cumulative degree hours required for an adult fly to develop at 21°C.

Temp °C Egg 1st Instar 2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar

Migrating 3rd Instar

Pupa

21 21 31 26 50 118 240

Deg Hrs 441 651 546 1050 2478 5040

Cum. Deg Hrs

441 651+441 = 1092

546+1092 = 1638

1050+1638 = 2688

2478+1638 = 5166

5040+5166 = 10206

Adult degree-hours = ∑ degree hours at each stage = cumulative degree hours = 10206

Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage: Species B

Lab Procedure 2, Step 4: By adding all the degree hours for each of the six life stages together, you

calculate the cumulative degree hours required for an adult fly to develop at 21°C.

Temp °C Egg 1st Instar 2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar

Migrating 3rd Instar

Pupa

21 25 37 31 60 124 286

Deg Hrs 525 777 651 1260 2604 6006

Cum. Deg Hrs

525 777+525 = 1302

651+1302 = 1953

1260+1953 = 3213

2604+3213 = 5817

6006+5817 = 11823

Adult degree-hours = ∑ degree hours at each stage = cumulative degree hours = 11823

Cumulative degree-hours for each dayLab Procedure 2, Step 5: Calculate elapsed degree hours for each of the days in the climatological

data provided. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the average temperature that day.

DAY MAX MIN AVG DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL

DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL

HEATING COOLING TOTAL WATER EQUIV

SNOW-FALL, ICE

PELLETS

SNOW, ICE PELLETS OR ICE ON GROUND

AVG SPEED (MPH)

AVG SPEED (KPH)

SKY COVER

SUNRISE-SUNSET

WEATHER OCCURENCES

PEAK WIND (KPH)

degree hours

cumulative degree hours

1 18.3 10.6 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 2.2 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.3 10.08 6 0S 18.7 386.66666

7 7283.73333

2 19.4 12.8 15.0 -3.0 -1.7 3.3 0.0 0.09 0 0 13.8 22.08 6 0SE 26.2

360 6897.06667

3 17.2 9.4 12.8 -5.2 -2.9 5.6 0.0 0.19 0 0 17.2 27.52 8 5SW 33.3 306.66666

7 6537.066674 20.0 10.6 13.3 -4.7 -2.6 5.0 0.0 0.28 0 0 12.3 19.68 9 1 W 38.6 320 6230.4

5 21.1 12.8 19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 7 1,2W 28.3 466.66666

7 5910.4

6 25.6 16.7 20.6 2.6 1.4 0.0 2.2 0.00 0 0 8.1 12.96 6 0SW 24.3 493.33333

3 5443.73333

7 23.9 15.2 19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.07 0 0 6.3 10.08 8 0S 16.7 466.66666

7 4950.4

8 20.6 12.8 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 0 0 13.2 21.12 8 0S 27.9 386.66666

7 4483.73333

9 22.1 13.9 18.9 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.00 0 0 4.2 6.72 3 0SE 10.3 453.33333

3 4097.06667

10 25.0 12.6 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 8.88 14.208 6 0S 22.7 386.66666

7 3643.73333

11 22.1 8.9 15.3 -2.7 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.67 0 0 19.6 31.36 6 3,5S 32.4

367.2 3257.06667

12 14.5 9.4 10.5 -7.5 -4.2 0.0 0.0 1.13 T 0 23.5 37.6 8 1,3,5SW 43.8

252 2889.86667

13 16.7 7.2 12.1 -5.9 -3.3 0.0 0.0 0.23 0 0 14.2 22.72 7 1,2S 29.8

290.4 2637.86667

14 19.3 9.3 15.0 -3.0 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.02 0 0 10.5 16.8 8 1S 24.5

360 2347.46667

15 16.5 8.9 12.8 -5.2 -2.9 0.0 0.0 T 0 0 11.9 19.04 4 0SW 23 306.66666

7 1987.4666716 18.9 10.7 13.3 -4.7 -2.6 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.4 10.24 3 0 W 19.2 320 1680.817 16.8 9.5 12.9 -5.1 -2.8 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 9.5 15.2 3 0 S 27.2 309.6 1360.818 19.4 10.7 16.4 -1.6 -0.9 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 2 0 W 26.3 393.6 1051.2

19 19.1 10.9 15.9 -2.1 -1.2 0.0 2.8 0.00 0 0 4.6 7.36 1 0SW 17.8

381.6 657.620 22.0 12.8 18.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 5.0 0.00 0 0 7.4 11.84 1 0 W 23.1 276 276                             

Which day the adult insect laid eggs on the body: Species A

Lab Procedure 2, Step 6a: Examine the species A life stages collected as evidence and identify the

oldest species A life stage collection for the adult male.DAY degree

hourscumulative degree hours

1386.66666

7 7283.73333

2 360 6897.06667

3306.66666

7 6537.066674 320 6230.4

5466.66666

7 5910.4

6493.33333

3 5443.73333

7466.66666

7 4950.4

8386.66666

7 4483.73333

9453.33333

3 4097.06667

10386.66666

7 3643.73333

11 367.2 3257.06667

12 252 2889.86667

13 290.4 2637.86667

14 360 2347.46667

15306.66666

7 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2

19 381.6 657.620 276 276 

On Day 11, the cumulative degree-hours were 3257. Species A takes 2688 degree-hours to complete development in the Feeding 3rd Instar and begin development in the Migration stage of the 3rd Instar. The temperature data alone suggests that the eggs were laid on the 12th, but there was a storm then, so we know that the eggs were laid before then since flies are not active during thunderstorms.

Feeding 3rd Instar

Migrating 3rd Instar

50 118

1050 2478

1050+1638 = 2688

2478+1638 = 5166

Which day the adult insect laid eggs on the body: Species B

Lab Procedure 2, Step 6a: Examine the species A life stages collected as evidence and identify the

oldest species B life stage collection for the adult male.DAY degree

hourscumulative degree hours

1386.66666

7 7283.73333

2 360 6897.06667

3306.66666

7 6537.066674 320 6230.4

5466.66666

7 5910.4

6493.33333

3 5443.73333

7466.66666

7 4950.4

8386.66666

7 4483.73333

9453.33333

3 4097.06667

10386.66666

7 3643.73333

11 367.2 3257.06667

12 252 2889.86667

13 290.4 2637.86667

14 360 2347.46667

15306.66666

7 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2

19 381.6 657.620 276 276 

On Day 17, the cumulative degree-hours were 1360. Species B takes 1302 degree-hours to complete development in the 1st Instar and begin development in the 2nd Instar.

1st Instar 2nd Instar

37 31

777 651

777+525 = 1302

651+1302 = 1953

Conclusion: Bodies have been dead for a minimum of 8 days, 16 hours

DAY degree hours

cumulative degree hours

9453.3333

33 4097.06667

10386.6666

67 3643.73333

11 367.2 3257.06667

12 252 2889.86667

13 290.4 2637.86667

14 360 2347.46667

15306.6666

67 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2

19 381.6 657.620 276 276 

THUNDERSTORM

Post Mortem Interval = ∑ hours(day) = h(20) + h(19) + h(18) … h(10) = 207 hours = 8 days, 15 hours

The post mortem interval was calculated to be 8 days, 15 hours, but we know that the storm occurred on the evening of the 11th, so we conjecture that at the flies were active at least an hour on the 11th, thus bringing our PMI to a minimum of 8 days, 16 hours. The actual PMI, which is unknown, may vary up to 12 hours more than this calculation due to weather. Students’ calculations may vary by up to a day later.

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