You will be split up into teams of 3. Each group member needs to be assigned one of the following roles
Invasive Species Ecologist: researching, discovering, and interpreting information about the Emerald Ash Borer.
Environmental Advocate: researching, discovering, and evaluating information about potential effects your solution may have on the environment and human population.
Materials Architect- researching, discovering, and explaining information about necessary materials and related costs of your solution.
Once you have picked your role, you are to research that area by yourself. Members of the team can look at the links below for ideas about their research. After you have conducted your individual research, you can share your findings with your team and start planing your prototype or design. Also, make note of all criteria and constraints set forth by the EPA and local governments below.
Invasive Species Ecologist
Driving Questions: What are some defining characteristics of the EAB that may affect the design of the trap? How do these beetles communicate chemically, and how might this affect the design of the trap? What is the life cycle of the EAB, and how may the life cycle and metamorphosis of this beetle affect the design of the trap? How might what is known about how the EAB came to Illinois affect the design of the trap? Why is this species thriving in Illinois, and how might that information affect the design of the trap?
Environmental Advocate
Driving Questions: What can we learn from the history of the ash tree about better control methods and other invasive species? Which types of insect traps are the most effective at trapping the desired target? What effects do different types of insect traps have on local wildlife? What effects do different types of insect traps have on local plant life? What effects do different types of insect traps have on the human population?
Materials Architect
Driving Questions: What solutions have already been created to reduce the EAB problem or other invasive species? What can you learn from these solutions? Keeping the criteria and constraints in mind, which materials would be best for creating your trap? What would be the estimated cost for you proposed solution? What visual aspects, like color, of the trap could play a vital role in attracting the EAB?
Criteria and Constraints
The following list was given to you by the EPA as design criteria and constraints: The purpose of this trap is to attract the Emerald Ash Borer at some stage of its life cycle in order to control the population, not just monitor it. It should focus on this beetle and no other insects. Your design should be able to be mass produced and distributed to all county park districts to significantly reduce or eliminate this invasive species.
Your trap...
Must be able to hang securely from the branch of a tree with a fastener able to withstand wind gusts of up to 50 mph
Must be water proof and be able to withstand all types of weather conditions
Must be no taller than 24 inches, excluding the hanging component
Cannot contain toxic chemicals deemed harmful to wildlife or humans
Should be made from available, recycled, and cost efficient materials that would be easy to produce and maintain
Must have an estimated cost of less than $5.00 USD per unit.
Cannot weigh more than 1 pound, including all materials needed to hang the trap
Additionally, to minimize cost of shipping at least 6 units of your model must be able to fit into a box with the following measurements: 30'' x 30''x 24''. Evidence with calculations that this is possible must be included in your design portfolio.
Definitions that could apply to your solution:
Insect pheromone: Powerful chemical attractants emitted by female insects. These chemicals are detected by the males, assisting them in locating unfertilized females for mating. Pheromones of many species have been identified and are synthetically produced for use in insect pest management programs
Aggregation pheromones- important semiochemicals in insects that play a key role in mating and other social behavior
Non-target species- Species not targeted by a specific study or trap.
Wing-type trap: The inner surface of the trap bottom is coated with a sticky substance and a pheromone-impregnated material is placed inside the trap. The bottoms can be changed as needed.
Delta-type trap: Can be used when changing the bottom is not necessary
Occurrence of peak emergence: A record of the number of new individuals captured at least twice each week until no new pests are being trapped
The structure must be weighed before testing and the weight recorded. The structure weight is to be the total of the materials used in the fabrication of the structure.
The structure must be tested in a local prairie patch using a similar species of insect. An "occurrence of peak emergence" record must be kept over a period of 2 weeks to calculate the efficiency of your trap. With this efficiency rating, non-target species must also be mentioned.