1. STEM Program - Termites By: Sydney Luffman & Scarlett Edmunds

2. The Background of Termites  Diet: Termites usually feed on cellulose, a substance found in wood, cardboard, and paper.  The most common termite found in our area is the Subterranean termite.  Some termites build a home out of dirt and saliva. They engineer this home to have its own special form of air conditioning.

3. What TJ Showed Us  TJ, one of our instructors, had drawn a black circle on a sheet of paper, and the termite followed the line.  Our experiment was to discover why the termite did this.

4. Our hypotheses  Termites are attracted to the color black.  Termites are attracted to something in the ink.  Termites follow the indentation.  Termites always walk in a cirlce.

5. Our Experiment with Predictions Bic red ink PencilPaper mate blue ink Black felt tip StylusTriangle in Bic black ink nothing Attracted to color black NYNYNYN Something in ink YNYNot sure NYN Follow an indentation YYYNYYN Always walk in a circle YYYYYNY Key: N = no Y = yes

6. Photos of the Experiment 1.Bic Black Pen 2.Bic Red Pen 3.Bic Black Triangle 4.Pencil 5.Papermate Blue Pen 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

7. Our discoveries  Termites did walk in a circle drawn with the Bic red ink, and in a triangle drawn with the Bic black ink.  They did not follow the circle with pencil, Black felt tip, Papermate blue ink, or stylus.  The termites also wandered aimlessly when there was nothing.

8. Our Conclusion  We concluded the termites are attracted to a chemical in Bic ink.  TJ then gave us the “big reveal”. The chemical in the ink is similar to the termites’ own pheromone trail, which they emit to lead them to food.