Our Experiment of Pill Bugs

1
Our Experiment of Pill Bugs
Armadillium Vulgare

• By
• The Mad Scientists
• Eric Kaufman
• Malia Norton
• Kris Norton
• Brandon Nase

2
Our Observations

• The colors of our pill bugs were gray with a
  white underside.
• All of our pill bugs had an anterior and
  posterior end.
• Each pill bug had 14 legs and two antennae.
• We observed that the legs move sequentially, but
  not all at the same time.
• Because they were in containers, their movements
  were mainly in circles.
• All of our pill bugs appeared to congregate in
  groups.
• The pill bugs also seemed to prefer darkness over
  light.

3
Questions

• We first thought that we could measure the
  effects of the pill bugs movements by removing
  its antennae. But, there was no solid movements
  we could measure.
• We then derived another question, asking if
  elements, such as rocks, leaves and bark, were
  added to the environment which one would the pill
  bugs prefer.

4
Hypothesis

• We were able to come up with a hypothesis from
  our second question
• When given a choice, the pill bug prefers to hide
  underneath bark, instead of hiding underneath
  rocks and leaves or staying out in the open.

5
Prediction

• If we provide the pill bugs with multiple hiding
  places, then most of them will choose to hide.
• If we give the pill bugs a choice to hide
  underneath rocks, leaves or bark, then more will
  choose to hide underneath the bark.

6
Testing Our Hypothesis

• To test our hypothesis, we took a large
  rectangular container and placed our objects in
  the container.
• Our objects included a piece of bark, two leaves
  and two rocks.
• After placing the container and objects in a
  dimly lit area, we placed ten pill bugs in the
  container.
• We waited for 20 minutes and checked to see which
  hiding spot they preferred.

7
Results of our Test

• Here were the results of our test

8
Our Conclusion
Number of Pill Bugs per Shelter
Number of Pill Bugs
Type of Shelters

• Although we thought the pill bugs would prefer
  the bark, at least they preferred another hiding
  place other than out in the open.