The FlyThe Fly

Head of a HouseflyHead of a Housefly(Bugscope)(Bugscope)

Using the ESEM (Environmental Scanning Using the ESEM (Environmental Scanning

Electron Microscopy) in the classroomElectron Microscopy) in the classroom By using the By using the environmental scanning environmental scanning electron microscopy and electron microscopy and the mirror microscope, the mirror microscope, students can learn by students can learn by doing the experiment doing the experiment hands-on. As said before, it hands-on. As said before, it keeps the students interest keeps the students interest on a high level. on a high level. The students can feel as if The students can feel as if they are scientists who they are scientists who have actually done the have actually done the research and they are research and they are analyzing their data.analyzing their data.

Anatomy of the FlyAnatomy of the Fly

Anatomy of the FlyAnatomy of the FlyAnatomyAnatomy: Like all insects, the : Like all insects, the house fly has a body divided into house fly has a body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), a hard exoskeleton, abdomen), a hard exoskeleton, and six jointed legs. Flies also and six jointed legs. Flies also have a pair of transparent wings. have a pair of transparent wings. The house fly can taste using its The house fly can taste using its its feet and with its mouthparts. its feet and with its mouthparts. Adults are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6 Adults are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6 - 12.5 mm) long with 13 - 15 mm - 12.5 mm) long with 13 - 15 mm wingspan. House flies are dark wingspan. House flies are dark gray, with four dark stripes down gray, with four dark stripes down the top of the thorax. They have the top of the thorax. They have sponging mouthparts (they sponging mouthparts (they cannot bite); house flies can only cannot bite); house flies can only eat liquids, but they can liquefy eat liquids, but they can liquefy many solid foods with their saliva. many solid foods with their saliva.

Reproduction of the FlyReproduction of the FlyReproductionReproduction: The complete life-: The complete life-cycle of a house fly takes from 10 cycle of a house fly takes from 10 to 21 days. On the average, 12 to 21 days. On the average, 12 generations of house flies can be generations of house flies can be produced in one year. Adult produced in one year. Adult females lay 120-150 tiny white females lay 120-150 tiny white eggs, usually in manure or other eggs, usually in manure or other warm, moist, decaying organic warm, moist, decaying organic matter. A female lives for about 2 matter. A female lives for about 2 1/2 months and can lay up to 1/2 months and can lay up to 1,000 eggs in her short life. The 1,000 eggs in her short life. The eggs are only about 0.04 inch (1 eggs are only about 0.04 inch (1 mm) long and hatch into white, mm) long and hatch into white, worm-like maggots in about 12 worm-like maggots in about 12 hours. The maggots grow to be hours. The maggots grow to be about 1/2 inch (12.5 mm) long. about 1/2 inch (12.5 mm) long. When they are this big, they When they are this big, they burrow into the ground to pupate. burrow into the ground to pupate. An adult will emerge in about 5 to An adult will emerge in about 5 to 6 days (in warm weather) or 6 days (in warm weather) or about a month (in cold weather). about a month (in cold weather).

There are other subjects besides There are other subjects besides Science (Art)Science (Art)

Using bugscope can be Using bugscope can be used with other subjects used with other subjects other than science. As other than science. As being my favorite subject being my favorite subject in school, I will link the in school, I will link the pictures of the bugs to an pictures of the bugs to an art project. art project. – I would require the I would require the

students to use the students to use the pictures of the bugs to pictures of the bugs to create a city where create a city where humans live. Students will humans live. Students will have to make the city out have to make the city out of recycled material from of recycled material from the schools dumpster. the schools dumpster.

There are other subjects besides There are other subjects besides Science (English)Science (English)

Another subject where the Another subject where the bugscope activity can be bugscope activity can be linked to is creative linked to is creative writing.writing. – Students will have the Students will have the

chance to create a story chance to create a story that describes their that describes their journey from one end of journey from one end of the picture to the other the picture to the other end. They will have the end. They will have the chance to make up chance to make up animals, plants, and even animals, plants, and even other people. Since it is all other people. Since it is all up to the students, their up to the students, their interest level will be at an interest level will be at an all-time high.all-time high.

Bottle Fly - HouseflyBottle Fly - Housefly

In-Class InvestigationIn-Class Investigation

DrawingDrawingThe first drawing on The first drawing on the right is a picture of the right is a picture of a housefly. (Before a housefly. (Before any investigation on a any investigation on a fly)fly)

The second drawing The second drawing on the left is a picture on the left is a picture of a bottle fly. (After of a bottle fly. (After investigating the fly)investigating the fly)

National Science Education StandardNational Science Education Standard

Structure and Function in Living Structure and Function in Living SystemsSystems

Exploring different organisms by observing Exploring different organisms by observing their structures and functions is one of the NSES their structures and functions is one of the NSES standards. Students can learn the different parts standards. Students can learn the different parts of the insect by actually seeing a real insect up of the insect by actually seeing a real insect up close. In the bugscope experiment, students can close. In the bugscope experiment, students can feel that they are actual scientists because the feel that they are actual scientists because the insects used in the experiment are their own. This insects used in the experiment are their own. This may help the students become more interested in may help the students become more interested in the actual procedure. the actual procedure.

Different Species of FlyDifferent Species of FlyHouse FlyHouse Fly

Flesh FlyFlesh Fly

Cluster FlyCluster Fly

Fruit FlyFruit Fly

Stable FlyStable Fly

Deer FlyDeer Fly

Black FlyBlack Fly

Blow FlyBlow Fly

Web links Web links http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.encarta.msn.com/http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/aencmed/targets/illus/ilt/T013976A.gif&imgrefurl=http://xrefmedia/aencmed/targets/illus/ilt/T013976A.gif&imgrefurl=http://encarta.msn.com/media_461517519/encarta.msn.com/media_461517519/External_Anatomy_of_a_Fly.html&h=340&w=592&sz=17&tbnid=O2f4t7amr1sJ:&tbnhExternal_Anatomy_of_a_Fly.html&h=340&w=592&sz=17&tbnid=O2f4t7amr1sJ:&tbnh=76&tbnw=133&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAnatomy%2Bof%2Ba=76&tbnw=133&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAnatomy%2Bof%2Ba%2Bfly%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%2Bfly%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/fly/Houseflyprintout.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/fly/Houseflyprintout.shtml

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://esem.utep.edu/ESEM%2520Facilityhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://esem.utep.edu/ESEM%2520Facility%2520Photos/ESEM2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://esem.utep.edu/%2520Photos/ESEM2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://esem.utep.edu/mainFrame.html&h=1368&w=1712&sz=390&tbnid=R7dYoaX7DC4J:&tbnh=119&tbnmainFrame.html&h=1368&w=1712&sz=390&tbnid=R7dYoaX7DC4J:&tbnh=119&tbnw=150&hl=en&start=10&prev=/images%3Fq%3DESEM%26imgsz%3Dxxlargew=150&hl=en&start=10&prev=/images%3Fq%3DESEM%26imgsz%3Dxxlarge%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

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http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/members/database.cgi?Account%20Name=2003-http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/members/database.cgi?Account%20Name=2003-075&Frame%20Number=000071075&Frame%20Number=000071