Entomology Kit Climate Data Analysis Tutorial
Vandalia Science Education
Updated 2/22/11
Degree-Hour DeterminationKnowns• Bodies discovered at 1:00PM on June 20• Insects collected at 3:00PM on June 20• Weather type (sunny, partly cloudy, overcast)• Weather events (rain, thunderstorms, snow)• Daily average temperature• Male and Female had the same species and lifecycles present
(Migrating 3rd Instar Species A, 2nd Instar Species B)Unknowns• Elapsed degree-hours for each day• Degree-hours for each life stage of both species• Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage of both species• Cumulative elapsed degree hours for each day• Which day the adult insect from both species laid its eggs• Earliest and latest time the insects began developing
Elapsed degree-hours for each day
• The collection time was 3:00PM on June 20, this tells us to multiply the first average temperature by 15 hours instead of 24
• Every other daily average temperature in the month will be multiplied by 24
Lab Procedure 2, Step 2: Determine the number of degree hours for each day using the weather
service data. To do this, multiply the average temperature times 24 hours for each day. This can be
performed in a spreadsheet.
Elapsed degree-hours for each dayDAY MAX MIN AVG DEPAR
-TURE FROM NORMA
L
DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL
HEATING
COOLING
TOTAL
WATER
EQUIV
SNOW-FALL, ICE
PELLETS
SNOW, ICE
PELLETS OR ICE ON
GROUND
AVG SPEED
(MPH)
AVG SPEED (KPH)
SKY COVER SUNRISE-SUNSET
WEATHER OCCURENCE
S
PEAK WIND (KPH)
degree hours
118.3
10.6
16.1 -1.9 -1.0 2.2 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.3 10.08 6 0
S 18.7 386.666667
219.4
12.8
15.0 -3.0 -1.7 3.3 0.0 0.09 0 0 13.8 22.08 6 0
SE 26.2 360
317.2 9.4
12.8 -5.2 -2.9 5.6 0.0 0.19 0 0 17.2 27.52 8 5
SW 33.3
306.666667
420.0
10.6
13.3 -4.7 -2.6 5.0 0.0 0.28 0 0 12.3 19.68 9 1
W 38.6320
521.1
12.8
19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 7 1,2
W 28.3 466.666667
625.6
16.7
20.6 2.6 1.4 0.0 2.2 0.00 0 0 8.1 12.96 6 0
SW 24.3
493.333333
723.9
15.2
19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.07 0 0 6.3 10.08 8 0
S 16.7 466.666667
820.6
12.8
16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 0 0 13.2 21.12 8 0
S 27.9 386.666667
922.1
13.9
18.9 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.00 0 0 4.2 6.72 3 0
SE 10.3
453.333333
1025.0
12.6
16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 8.88
14.208 6 0
S 22.7 386.666667
1122.1 8.9
15.3 -2.7 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.67 0 0 19.6 31.36 6 3,5
S 32.4367.2
1214.5 9.4
10.5 -7.5 -4.2 0.0 0.0 1.13 T 0 23.5 37.6 8 1,3,5
SW 43.8 252
1316.7 7.2
12.1 -5.9 -3.3 0.0 0.0 0.23 0 0 14.2 22.72 7 1,2
S 29.8290.4
1419.3 9.3
15.0 -3.0 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.02 0 0 10.5 16.8 8 1
S 24.5360
1516.5 8.9
12.8 -5.2 -2.9 0.0 0.0 T 0 0 11.9 19.04 4 0
SW 23 306.666667
1618.9
10.7
13.3 -4.7 -2.6 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.4 10.24 3 0
W 19.2320
1716.8 9.5
12.9 -5.1 -2.8 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 9.5 15.2 3 0
S 27.2309.6
1819.4
10.7
16.4 -1.6 -0.9 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 2 0
W 26.3393.6
1919.1
10.9
15.9 -2.1 -1.2 0.0 2.8 0.00 0 0 4.6 7.36 1 0
SW 17.8 381.6
2022.0
12.8
18.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 5.0 0.00 0 0 7.4 11.84 1 0
W 23.1276
Degree-hours for each life stage: Species A
Lab Procedure 2, Step 3: Determine the number of degree hours required for each life stage of both
species. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the degrees Celsius given in the table.
Temp °C Egg 1st Instar
2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar
Migrating 3rd Instar
Pupa
21 21 31 26 50 118 240
21*21 = 441
31*21 = 651
26*21 = 546
50*21 = 1050
118*21 = 2478
240*21 = 5040
Degree-hours for each life stage: Species B
Lab Procedure 2, Step 3: Determine the number of degree hours required for each life stage of both
species. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the degrees Celsius given in the table.
Temp °C Egg 1st Instar
2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar
Migrating 3rd Instar
Pupa
21 25 37 31 60 124 286
25*21 = 525
37*21 = 777
31*21 = 651
60*21 = 1260
124*21 = 2604
286*21 = 6006
Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage: Species A
Lab Procedure 2, Step 4: By adding all the degree hours for each of the six life stages together, you
calculate the cumulative degree hours required for an adult fly to develop at 21°C.
Temp °C Egg 1st Instar 2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar
Migrating 3rd Instar
Pupa
21 21 31 26 50 118 240
Deg Hrs 441 651 546 1050 2478 5040
Cum. Deg Hrs
441 651+441 = 1092
546+1092 = 1638
1050+1638 = 2688
2478+1638 = 5166
5040+5166 = 10206
Adult degree-hours = ∑ degree hours at each stage = cumulative degree hours = 10206
Cumulative degree-hours for each life stage: Species B
Lab Procedure 2, Step 4: By adding all the degree hours for each of the six life stages together, you
calculate the cumulative degree hours required for an adult fly to develop at 21°C.
Temp °C Egg 1st Instar 2nd Instar Feeding 3rd Instar
Migrating 3rd Instar
Pupa
21 25 37 31 60 124 286
Deg Hrs 525 777 651 1260 2604 6006
Cum. Deg Hrs
525 777+525 = 1302
651+1302 = 1953
1260+1953 = 3213
2604+3213 = 5817
6006+5817 = 11823
Adult degree-hours = ∑ degree hours at each stage = cumulative degree hours = 11823
Cumulative degree-hours for each dayLab Procedure 2, Step 5: Calculate elapsed degree hours for each of the days in the climatological
data provided. To do this, multiply the number of hours by the average temperature that day.
DAY MAX MIN AVG DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL
DEPAR-TURE FROM NORMAL
HEATING COOLING TOTAL WATER EQUIV
SNOW-FALL, ICE
PELLETS
SNOW, ICE PELLETS OR ICE ON GROUND
AVG SPEED (MPH)
AVG SPEED (KPH)
SKY COVER
SUNRISE-SUNSET
WEATHER OCCURENCES
PEAK WIND (KPH)
degree hours
cumulative degree hours
1 18.3 10.6 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 2.2 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.3 10.08 6 0S 18.7 386.66666
7 7283.73333
2 19.4 12.8 15.0 -3.0 -1.7 3.3 0.0 0.09 0 0 13.8 22.08 6 0SE 26.2
360 6897.06667
3 17.2 9.4 12.8 -5.2 -2.9 5.6 0.0 0.19 0 0 17.2 27.52 8 5SW 33.3 306.66666
7 6537.066674 20.0 10.6 13.3 -4.7 -2.6 5.0 0.0 0.28 0 0 12.3 19.68 9 1 W 38.6 320 6230.4
5 21.1 12.8 19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 7 1,2W 28.3 466.66666
7 5910.4
6 25.6 16.7 20.6 2.6 1.4 0.0 2.2 0.00 0 0 8.1 12.96 6 0SW 24.3 493.33333
3 5443.73333
7 23.9 15.2 19.4 1.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 0.07 0 0 6.3 10.08 8 0S 16.7 466.66666
7 4950.4
8 20.6 12.8 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 0 0 13.2 21.12 8 0S 27.9 386.66666
7 4483.73333
9 22.1 13.9 18.9 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.00 0 0 4.2 6.72 3 0SE 10.3 453.33333
3 4097.06667
10 25.0 12.6 16.1 -1.9 -1.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 8.88 14.208 6 0S 22.7 386.66666
7 3643.73333
11 22.1 8.9 15.3 -2.7 -1.5 0.0 0.0 0.67 0 0 19.6 31.36 6 3,5S 32.4
367.2 3257.06667
12 14.5 9.4 10.5 -7.5 -4.2 0.0 0.0 1.13 T 0 23.5 37.6 8 1,3,5SW 43.8
252 2889.86667
13 16.7 7.2 12.1 -5.9 -3.3 0.0 0.0 0.23 0 0 14.2 22.72 7 1,2S 29.8
290.4 2637.86667
14 19.3 9.3 15.0 -3.0 -1.7 0.0 0.0 0.02 0 0 10.5 16.8 8 1S 24.5
360 2347.46667
15 16.5 8.9 12.8 -5.2 -2.9 0.0 0.0 T 0 0 11.9 19.04 4 0SW 23 306.66666
7 1987.4666716 18.9 10.7 13.3 -4.7 -2.6 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 6.4 10.24 3 0 W 19.2 320 1680.817 16.8 9.5 12.9 -5.1 -2.8 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 9.5 15.2 3 0 S 27.2 309.6 1360.818 19.4 10.7 16.4 -1.6 -0.9 0.0 0.0 0.00 0 0 11.1 17.76 2 0 W 26.3 393.6 1051.2
19 19.1 10.9 15.9 -2.1 -1.2 0.0 2.8 0.00 0 0 4.6 7.36 1 0SW 17.8
381.6 657.620 22.0 12.8 18.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 5.0 0.00 0 0 7.4 11.84 1 0 W 23.1 276 276
Which day the adult insect laid eggs on the body: Species A
Lab Procedure 2, Step 6a: Examine the species A life stages collected as evidence and identify the
oldest species A life stage collection for the adult male.DAY degree
hourscumulative degree hours
1386.66666
7 7283.73333
2 360 6897.06667
3306.66666
7 6537.066674 320 6230.4
5466.66666
7 5910.4
6493.33333
3 5443.73333
7466.66666
7 4950.4
8386.66666
7 4483.73333
9453.33333
3 4097.06667
10386.66666
7 3643.73333
11 367.2 3257.06667
12 252 2889.86667
13 290.4 2637.86667
14 360 2347.46667
15306.66666
7 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2
19 381.6 657.620 276 276
On Day 11, the cumulative degree-hours were 3257. Species A takes 2688 degree-hours to complete development in the Feeding 3rd Instar and begin development in the Migration stage of the 3rd Instar. The temperature data alone suggests that the eggs were laid on the 12th, but there was a storm then, so we know that the eggs were laid before then since flies are not active during thunderstorms.
Feeding 3rd Instar
Migrating 3rd Instar
50 118
1050 2478
1050+1638 = 2688
2478+1638 = 5166
Which day the adult insect laid eggs on the body: Species B
Lab Procedure 2, Step 6a: Examine the species A life stages collected as evidence and identify the
oldest species B life stage collection for the adult male.DAY degree
hourscumulative degree hours
1386.66666
7 7283.73333
2 360 6897.06667
3306.66666
7 6537.066674 320 6230.4
5466.66666
7 5910.4
6493.33333
3 5443.73333
7466.66666
7 4950.4
8386.66666
7 4483.73333
9453.33333
3 4097.06667
10386.66666
7 3643.73333
11 367.2 3257.06667
12 252 2889.86667
13 290.4 2637.86667
14 360 2347.46667
15306.66666
7 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2
19 381.6 657.620 276 276
On Day 17, the cumulative degree-hours were 1360. Species B takes 1302 degree-hours to complete development in the 1st Instar and begin development in the 2nd Instar.
1st Instar 2nd Instar
37 31
777 651
777+525 = 1302
651+1302 = 1953
Conclusion: Bodies have been dead for a minimum of 8 days, 16 hours
DAY degree hours
cumulative degree hours
9453.3333
33 4097.06667
10386.6666
67 3643.73333
11 367.2 3257.06667
12 252 2889.86667
13 290.4 2637.86667
14 360 2347.46667
15306.6666
67 1987.4666716 320 1680.817 309.6 1360.818 393.6 1051.2
19 381.6 657.620 276 276
THUNDERSTORM
Post Mortem Interval = ∑ hours(day) = h(20) + h(19) + h(18) … h(10) = 207 hours = 8 days, 15 hours
The post mortem interval was calculated to be 8 days, 15 hours, but we know that the storm occurred on the evening of the 11th, so we conjecture that at the flies were active at least an hour on the 11th, thus bringing our PMI to a minimum of 8 days, 16 hours. The actual PMI, which is unknown, may vary up to 12 hours more than this calculation due to weather. Students’ calculations may vary by up to a day later.
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