Life Science: Brassica & Butterfly System
The Salad Bar
Are Pieris larvae picky eaters? Find out by providing them with their very own salad bar.
Materials Needed
- Three plastic plates
- Six leaves for feeding trials*
- Three Pieris larvae from Brassica Barn
*Select from members of the Brassica family (cabbage, Broccoli, turnips, pak choi, kale, mustard greens, etc.) and non-Brassicas (lettuce, beet leaves, celery leaves, carrot leaves, spinach, etc.).
Instructions
- Make three dime-sized portions from each leaf. You can also use a hole punch to make more precise portions.
- Place one portion from each leaf in a circular pattern near the outside of one plate. Repeat this for the two remaining plates.
- Gently remove 3 Pieris larvae from a Brassica Barn and place one in the center of each dish. You can use more larvae if you wish.
- Observe and describe what happens. Record results at 2 hours, 4 hours, and 24 hours.
Activity Questions:
- How did the larva(e) behave when introduced into the container?
- Which plants did the larvae eat?
- Compare how much was eaten from each leaf.
- What can you conclude about the feeding preferences of Pieris larvae?
SHARE YOUR RESULTS: The Salad Bar
TRACK OUR PROGRESS: The Salad Bar
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