Team Maggot: Designing a Better Bait Cup
Faculty Sponsor
Kristi Bugajski
College
Arts and Sciences
Discipline(s)
Biology
ORCID Identifier(s)
0000-0002-1518-0804, 0000-0002-7324-4802, 0000-0002-2359-3107, 0000-0003-1326-9204
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Summer 7-28-2015
Abstract
Forensic entomology is the application of data from arthropods for investigative purposes in the criminal justice system. This study examined blow fly oviposition (egg laying) rates on chicken liver. The purpose of this experiment was to create a more effective bait cup for a higher percent yield in oviposition. The three main questions studied were: “does the weight of the liver affect oviposition?”, “does the location of the bait cup affect the occurrence of oviposition?” and, “is a foil or a plastic cup more attractive for oviposition?” A one way ANOVA showed a significant difference in the amount of oviposition using different liver weights (F=4.5, df=27, p=0.012). Tukey post hoc tests revealed significant differences between the 15g and 60g weights, and between the 30g and 60g weights. A one way ANOVA found no significant difference in the number of trials with oviposition in different locations (F=2.283, df=34, p=0.084). An independent samples t-test found a significant difference in the number of trials with oviposition using foil vs. plastic cups (T=-2.61, df=12, p=0.023). These results will help create an ideal bait cup for studying larger diurnal oviposition questions.
Recommended Citation
Bugajski, Kristi; Tamburrino, Victoria; Henning, Christopher; and Corsolini, Jordan, "Team Maggot: Designing a Better Bait Cup" (2015). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 465.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/465
