Julian+Moran

Please direct questions and updates to Julian Moran here. =Thank you so much with all the help you gave us! = =Our project is completed and looks great = =Thanks, = =Josie DeBellis and Brenna Starkey = **//Here is the Science Fair Paperwork collected for your groups this week.... Brian and Jodi Burda //**

Q: Dear Mr. Moran, We have a question about our expirement, how should we count the number of ladybug eggs? A: I use a 10x eye loupe(magnifier) I purchased from a place called BioQuip. They used to be in Gardena but now they are in Carson. You can find them at [|www.bioquip.com] Mine cost about $10 but that was 20 years ago. You can use mine if you would like. Or, you could use a camera with a macro lens or capability. Put the camera on a tripod and illuminate the specimen with a flash or a light. Never use laytex gloves when handling the plants or specimen. Most laytex gloves have a residue that maybe harmful, but be sure to always wash your hands after and never put your hands in your mouth or rub your eyes when manipulating your specimen. They can be harmful to you as well. Lastly, wear a face mask when you look at the eggs up close. The humidity in your breath may have an adverse affect on the little guys and naturally occuring bacteria in you could also produce unwanted results. Besides, if one of those Ladybugs could take flight while you are looking at them and they could fly into your mouth, they taste like chicken! ;-)

Thank you! I think we will use the camera with a macro lens or capability. We will keep you uptaded Josie DeBellis and Brenna Starkey

Q:Dear Mr. Moran I have a question about the ladybug experiment. What types of thing and plants should be in the terrarium?

Q: From Mr. Moran:
 * Brenna Starkey and Josie DeBellis, your experiment sounds very interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing more. I also have a few questions for you that may inspire your experiment.You probably know Ladybugs are in the** **Coccinellidae family, but what does that mean? All insects have three stage body parts, can you name them? The baby Ladybugs are hatched from eggs but what happens next? Do they hatch as larvae or nymphs? Do they molt and grow into a new body like snakes or go through a metamorphosis like butterflies and moths? Also, what do they eat? Can they see, smell, hear and how do they breath with such small mouths? Lastly, does any of this matter when you perform your experiment?**

Q: From Mr. Moran:
 * Kara Simones and Ariana Verduzco, magnets are fascinating objects. They come in a great variety of shapes and sizes. I want to know so much about them, I don’t know where to begin. So, really what is a magnet? Do they occur naturally in our environment like water and iron or are they produced in a factory like plastic? I’ve seen really big magnets that don’t seem to have much pull and little ones I can’t get off my refrigerator no matter how hard I pull. So how do you measure a magnet? Does size, shape or color matter. I mean, when I measure the electricity in my car I use a Digital Volt Meter (DVM). It tells me my battery is charged to 12 volts DC and can deliver some measurable amount of amperage or current. What is the unit of measurement for magnets, Pounds per square inch, Miles per hour, Gallons per minute? And, how do you measure them? Inquiring minds want to know! And of course, will any of this have an effect on your experiment?**

Q: From Ariana Verduzco and Kara Simones: Dear Mr. Moran, do you think our experiment needs an average added to our table? Also our plants aren't growing as well as we expected, so should we buy an already potted plant and see the changes from there? Thank you!