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Pill Bug Experiment Essay

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Isopod Experiment This experiment was conducted on pillbugs (Armadillidiidae) from the class Malacostraca and order Isopods. These bugs were used to preform a Natural Experiment to test their response and attraction to chocolate and/or vanilla flavored chips. During the experiment, the pill-bugs will have the opportunity to choose between the two kinds of chips and the favored flavor will be noted for each bug. Introduction The isopods used for this experiment range in color from gray to brown and were about 8.5 to 18 mm in length. Each Isopod’s head had one pair of antennae and one pair of antennules, both used to detect sensory stimuli from the environment around the pillbug. Their bodies were made of a hard thorax with seven segments and an abdomen. Each pillbug had seven pairs of legs, one for each segment of its thorax. Pill bugs breathe through gill-like structures and must live in moist places. Although pillbugs are nocturnal Isopods, they can still be found during the day in dark, humid places like under fallen leaves, rocks, or logs. They live their entire lives on land and are terrestrial crustaceans. Fondly known as roly-poly due to its ability to roll into ball when disturbed, pillbugs feed mainly on decaying plant leaves and other decomposing …show more content…

They have eyes that can detect light, but have poor vision otherwise. Pillbugs can use their sense of smell to find food, identify mates and other pillbugs. There antennae are used for touching and can detect objects they brush up against. Not only can they detect different chemicals with their antennae, but they can also produce a chemical called an aggregate pheromone which other pillbugs can detect. Pillbugs use this pheromone to mark their trails which lets other pillbugs find them. The presence of this pheromone also works to show other pillbugs that this habitat is desirable and

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