Final Preparation!

After confirming that the experimental trial worked, it is time to start. I plan to start off with two experimental sets, hence I will need 8 boxes, 4 boxes for each set. Each box is set up like the pre-experimental trial box, with approximately 280g of soil, 200ml soaked water, a little shelter made by the egg container and a food area shaped by a piece of filter paper (that way, there won't be any molds). I came in late this week to spray 15 times in #1-8 to moist the area in preparation when pill bugs come in next week. I will briefly explain again how #1-8 is used. In #1 and #5, there is the negative control group, female + female. In #2 and #6, there is the positive control group, male + female, which we can expect a second generation. Then #3 and #7 are the treatment 1 group, female + female with periodic interaction with males for once. Last but not least, #4 and #8 are the treatment 2 group, female + female with periodic interaction with males for twice. Once they all come in next week, I will sex them and then the cycle starts!

This is how my experimental set-up is...(cleaner than it usually is)

See the one experimental set on the left - the four piled up boxes.

Found Babies!

It's after break - that means it's the time to start off the real thing! Well, before then, I of course have to take care of what was left off and be prepared to start everything the week after. Over the two weeks of vacation, I was researching about pill bug pregnancy. Here's what I found. Pill bugs eggs are stored in the brood poutch of the mother for a period of time (approximately 1 month) before being hatched. To know if the female pill bug is pregnant or not, you will see white patches near the hind legs area.

Here's a picture of what a pregnant pill bug looks like:

This is just the early stage of pregnancy...

and this is definitely what is called "a later stage of pregnancy".

Now that I returned with more knowledge on pill bug's reproduction cycle, I shall proceed. One great news for me (or even maybe you) when I check my pre-experimental tanks...There are egg shells lying all over the box! Which means...the mommy-pill bug gave birth! The parents are placed in the box for about one month, exactly about the time the offspring would be born. How great! This perfectly works out as how I wanted it to, postive sign to move forward and get the real experiment going.

Spring Break!

Due to a two-week spring vacation from March 3rd to 19th, I cannot start my experiment. However, Ms. Mroczka helped with keeping the soil moist and feeding the bugs while I was away from campus. The bugs are kept alive and I am thankful for her assistance with my project. Once I return on campus, I will start my experiment on the second week. During spring break, I am to research and learn about pill bug pregnancy. More information will be posted once I finished my research. Have a good break everyone!