Instars: A Journal of Undergraduate Research (Texas Digital Library - TDL E-Journals)
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220 research outputs found
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Testing the Efficiency of Four Homemade Baits for Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Buren)
No full textBoth store-bought and homemade baits can be used to attract and kill ants. The efficiency of four homemade baits - peanut butter, grape jelly, powdered sugar, and dish soap - for attracting Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Buren) were tested by mixing 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 tsp of each bait in four covered cups. The cups were placed on a mound in Flint, TX for 15 minutes before being placed in a plastic bag and stored for at least 24 hours. Ten identical trials were conducted. The dish soap mixture attracted the highest percentage of ants (53.36 percent ± 24.058 percent), followed by the peanut butter mixture (28.12 percent ± 26.02 percent), the grape jelly mixture (11.90 percent ± 9.398 percent), and then the sugar mixture (6.62 percent ± 7.475 percent). The dish soap mixture was the most efficient in attracting S. invicta although it does not contain sugar or protein, which have been proven to act as efficient ant bait. This result may be due to the paste’s ability to trap and suffocate the ants that interacted with it and its grapefruit scent.
Keywords: Solenopsis invicta, ant, bait, homemad
Effects of varying freezing temperatures on kill times of Periplaneta americana (L.) (Blattodea: Blattidae)
No full textPeriplaneta americana (L.) (Blattodea: Blattidae), commonly known as the American Cockroach, is a common pest in human habitations and structures. Though not a major vector of any pathogens, P. americana is known to carry bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella spp. (Salmon), which can become a problem in poultry houses. Salmonella spp. bacteria is regularly present in the digestive tract of poultry, and when over abundant, it can become a problem when the meat is consumed by humans. With the presence of P. americana and other Blattodea species in poultry houses, it can become difficult to manage Salmonella spp. Managing pests in the poultry industry can be strenuous and expensive, as many pesticides can be harmful to the poultry if not properly applied. The aim of this experiment was to determine effective lethal freezing temperatures of P. americana so methods of eliminating the pest may be developed using cold temperatures. Using varying temperatures, P. americana specimens were freezed and death rates were monitored over specific time periods. While freezing the cockroaches below 0˚ C resulted in high mortalities, the intensity of the freeze appeared to be the major contributor to the rate at which the specimens were killed. With this information, future P. americana control methods can be set in place not only in poultry houses, but in any infested human structure.
Keywords: Periplaneta americana, salmonella, pest, freezing, exterminat
The Impact of Various Substances on Fingerprint Clarity and Readability
No full textThis study investigates the impact of various substances on the clarity and readability of fingerprint impressions, a vital part of forensic science. The primary objective is to evaluate how substances such as lotion, hand sanitizer, foundation, and Clorox wipes influence the quality of fingerprints. It is hypothesized that lotion and foundation will cause the greatest degradation, while hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes will have minimal effect. This experiment involved preparing controlled fingerprint impressions using an ink pad and fingerprinting cards, followed by the application of each substance. Fingerprints were evaluated based on a predefined clarity scale of 1 to 5 using high-resolution images. Each substance was tested twice per finger to validate consistency. Findings revealed significant variations in fingerprint readability, with lotion and foundation and foundation showing the highest degradation levels corroborating the hypothesis. This research underscores the importance of controlling environmental and external factors in forensic investigations. This study shows the effect of common substances on fingerprint quality, the study provides insights for improved evidence collection
The Effect of Artificial Blood Meals on Culex quinquefasciatus Fecundity in Colony
No full textArtificial membrane feeding is critical in the maintenance of mosquito colonies. Feeding artificially is said to be as effective as live feeding and has replaced most types of live feeding in laboratories for years, however there is a lack of studies supporting this. Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera:Culicidae) is often used for experiments due to its abundance and ability to vector many medically significant diseases. To study the difference in Culex quinquefasciatus fecundity between live feeding and artificial membrane feeding separate cohorts were used. A cohort for live feeding, one for artificial feeding, and one for exsanguinated blood feeding. The fecundity and fertility of each mosquito was observed in each cohort. In this study we found that live feeding resulting in the highest mean egg per raft ratio. This is possibly due to the chemical treatment of blood with the introduction of citrate to prevent clotting. Whether the reduction in egg production is due to the ingestion of chemical or the lack of natural clotting within the mosquito is unclear and would require further research
Effects of estrogen levels in women compared to men in memory recall
No full textIn everyday court proceedings, eyewitness testimony has been considered an extremely important piece of evidence. However, despite its common usage in the court of law, it has been known to be unreliable and has led to wrongful convictions in the past. Understanding the significance of differences in the memory abilities from person to person is important when attempting to use testimony in court in hopes of reaching a guilty verdict. To better understand the accuracy of one’s memory, specifically the differences between a biological male and females’ memory, recall abilities between 15 male and 15 female participants were analyzed. While memory recall was the main focus of the study, the effects of a difference in estrogen levels was also looked at in order to determine whether or not there was a correlation between memory recall and estrogen levels in different witnesses. It was assumed that the females had a higher level of estrogen than the males and therefore the females were hypothesized to perform better on the questionnaire. A week after the initial questionnaire, the participants were asked to recall specific details from a scene and the correct number of answers from each group of respondents was recorded. No significant difference between the memory recall abilities of males and the memory recall abilities of females were found. With this, no definite conclusions about the effects of the presence of estrogen in different witnesses can be made, but larger work can be done in order to determine whether or not causation is present between the two variables
Comparison of Concealment Methods on the Visibility of Accidental Marks on Shoe Soles
No full textForensic Science is a continuously expanding field that incorporates the analysis of a multitude of variables in shoeprint and impression analysis. Footwear evidence is currently considered in crime scene investigations conducted by forensic experts. The research explores the difference in the characteristic points on the sole of a shoe with the addition of concealment materials in the creation of impressions and shoeprints. In the experiment, results of three treatments involving the addition of a plastic bag, an elastic shoe cover comprised of nylon, and duct tape are considered. The impressions and footprints were documented in photographic results that are compared to a control group without any added materials. The data was analyzed through the observation of changes in the visibility in ten minutiae points of characteristics chosen before the commencement of the research. The nylon shoe cover produced the smallest number of visible minutiae that correlates to being the technique of concealment of shoe impressions and prints that produces the most observable change in their visibility
Assessing the Efficacy of Sapling AI Content Detector as an Effective Tool for Detecting AI-generated Text from ChatGPT
No full text Artificial Intelligence has grown into a primary concern of many academic institutions as they continuously try to catch up to the increasingly innovative way that students try to cheat. Large Language Models such as ChatGPT exponentially threaten academic integrity as popularity rises. Because this technology is so new, many educators are concerned that students may misuse this new tool to plagiarize assignments. However, some educators have felt they have found a solution: AI detection tools. While AI detection tools have surged in popularity, many studies have illustrated the unreliability of these tools. Many higher education institutions have even banned using AI detection tools as a plagiarism counter due to high levels of false positive results. This experiment aims to confirm the actual state of AI detection tools and contribute to quelling the growing concern around them. For this study, we applied AI-generated text samples, human-generated text samples, and hybrid samples containing both mediums on a trial basis. These samples were applied to the Sapling AI Detector and analyzed based on their AI text detection percentile score. We determined that, while Sapling could identify the AI-generated samples with 100% accuracy, it struggled to accurately identify human-generated text, with only 10% of the samples not demonstrating a false positive. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the human-generated samples’ AI detection and their hybridized counterparts when analyzing the hybrid samples
The Effect of Insect Feeding on Hard Tissue During Late-Stage Decomposition
No full textThe study of how insect colonization affects the latter most stages of decomposition is vital to the progress of forensic studies as well as the applications of anthropology and entomology in a forensic context. In an effort to try and make progress in linking anthropology and entomology in an applied forensics context, the experiment was performed and consisted of observing and analyzing decomposing hard tissue for potential physical evidence of insect feeding. Three trials consisting of three samples of mostly stripped beef rib were allowed to decompose for three weeks each. The ribs were not completely stripped in an effort to incentivize the insects in the surrounding environment to feed on the samples. Afterward, the samples were cleaned and stripped by breaking down the collagen in the connective tissues of the remaining meat through boiling the samples, and then were analyzed under a dissection microscope. During analysis, each sample was individually compared to a control of the same type, and it was discovered that over 50% of the entire sample population of bones were found to have microscopic indentations that could not be accredited to environmental damage, production inconsistencies, or experimental error. The origins of the damage could not be attributed to any known variable in the experiment, but since there was proof of insect feeding on the samples the experiment proceeded under the assumption that the insects observed feeding on the samples were the origins of the damage. The conclusion drawn from the experiment is that insect damage from feeding can be imprinted on hard tissue for analysis during late stages of decomposition when hard tissue is more prevalent than soft tissue as a food source.
Key words: decomposition, entomology, anthropology, damag
Food Attraction in Two Domestic Populations of Young Blaptica Dubia (Blattodea: Blaberidae) (Serville, 1838)
No full textBlaptica dubia (Blattodea: Blaberidae), or the dubia roach, has become a popular feeder insect for reptiles and amphibians because of their easy care and high protein content. Despite the captive dubia roach growing in numbers, research on this insect is sparse. This study aimed to fill a knowledge gap on the subject of the preference of dubia roach nymphs under a month of age and to compare possible differences between two population samples from different dubia roach companies. One population was derived from Dubia Roach Depot (population A), and one from the All About Feeders (population B). Two plastic bins were placed with cat food (control), banana, and cheese for a protein, carb, and fat, respectively, for each of seven trials, and feeding visitations were counted over an hour to determine attraction. The results provided no significant differences in the food attraction within each population or between the populations. These results could be important for understanding the generalist behavior of the Blaptica dubia and how this topic can apply in insect production and pest management industries
Investigation of Host Hormone Impact on Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Feeding Preferences
No full textAbstract: Mosquitoes pose an immense threat in their capability to both locate and feed upon hosts. Though plenty is known about the methods used by these arthropods to seek out hosts, less is known regarding the impact each method has upon a successful host location. The degree of host-specificity between species is known to vary, and to what extent host-specific qualities affect this is not fully apparent. Specimens of medically important mosquito species known to inhabit Brazos County, Texas, including Aedes aegypti, Aedes triseriatus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Psorophora columbiae were collected in the spring season of 2020. Samples were evaluated based upon apparent preferences for various simulated host signals, deer pheromone or sweaty clothes. The data obtained demonstrated preferences in-line with natural populations of Aedes aegypti and Psorophora columbiae, with other species lacking statistically significant results or sample sizes for proper analysis. Results provide an incentive for further ecological research into the impact of isolated host-seeking signals in initiating host-seeking behavior, as well as characteristics of said isolated signals that induce stages of behavior