1. Temperature Influence on Butterfly Development
Paul Beer
Central Catholic High School
Grade 9

2. Problem
With rising global temperatures, some species will not survive in the changing conditions

3. Butterflies
Butterflies, like many insects go through a 4 stage development cycle which includes egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa, and adult
The larva stage is after the egg stage, and the caterpillars consume as much food as possible to be stored for use in the pupa stage
The third stage is when the caterpillar finds a suitable area to cocoon and forms a chrysalis

4. Temperature Temperature has many effects on living things
There is a chance that the temperatures may be unsuitable for the larva and chrysalids, and they may die
Unnatural temperature modifiers will be in use to create the different environments

5. Purpose
What is the effect of temperature on the development of butterfly larvae and chrysalids?

6. Hypotheses
Null:
-There will not be a significant effect of temperature on the amount of surviving of butterfly larvae and chrysalids
Alternative:
-There will be a significant effect of temperature on the amount of surviving butterfly larvae and chrysalids

7. Materials
3 "Original Butterfly Garden With Live Cup of Caterpillars" from insectlore.com
A small fan
A small space heater

8. Procedure
The three cups of butterflies were set up in separate corners of a room
The fan was placed by one, the heater by another
Once all caterpillars were cocooned (10th day), they were appropriately hung in the "garden"
After 23 days, it was determined that the butterflies that had not emerged from their chrysalids were dead and the remaining were counted

11. Chi Square Analyses Chrysalids Caterpillars P: 0.98 P: 0.98 P: 0.90
15 Degrees
21 Degrees
26 Degrees
4.6 5 4
15 Degrees
21 Degrees
26 Degrees 4 5 3
P: 0.98
P: 0.98
P: 0.90
P: 0.99
P: 0.88
P: 0.88

12. Conclusion
The null was accepted for the effect of temperature on both caterpillars AND chrysalids
Temperatures from degrees Celsius do not appear to have an affect on butterfly development

13. Limitations/Extensions
The stats could not back up the conclusion enough because the sample size was too small; the cost limited the amount obtained
Other health parameters should be examined
Extensions:
More caterpillars
A better containment to keep better controlled temperatures
More extreme temperatures
Extend the project to how the butterflies survived as adults after being exposed to the temperatures and to the egg stage as well

14. Works Cited
“Lepidoptera – Latest Classification” Discoveries in Natural History & Exploration. University of California.
Culin Joseph. “Lepidopteran Form and Function.” Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Capinera, John L. Encyclopedia of Etymology. Springer Science and Business Media
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