Does daily ultraviolet light change the size or color of a butterfly? Tiger swallowtail pupae were split into three groups. One group got one minute of UV light each day. Another got five minutes. A third group got none.
After the adults hatched each butterfly was measured. The team tracked wing span and body length. They also measured the percentage of black on the wings. Digital photos and computer tools handled the measurements.
The results showed no significant difference between any group. Neither one minute nor five minutes of UV exposure changed size or coloring.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that ultraviolet light will affect the size and color of butterflies.
The body-shape change that happens inside the pupal case follows its own internal program. Tiger swallowtail pupae were split into three groups: one got one minute of UV light each day, another got five minutes, and a third received none. After the adults hatched, each butterfly was measured for wing span, body length, and percentage of black on the wings. Neither one minute nor five minutes of UV exposure produced any significant difference between groups.
Invisible light from the sun can change the growth, color, and health of living things — but the effect depends on the species and the dose. Tiger swallowtail pupae were split into three groups. One group received one minute of UV light each day. Another received five minutes. A third group received none. After the adults hatched, each butterfly was measured for wing span and body length. Digital photos and computer tools tracked the percentage of black on the wings. The results showed no significant difference between any group. Neither one minute nor five minutes of UV exposure changed size or coloring, revealing that not every organism responds visibly to ultraviolet radiation at low doses.
Method & Materials
You will need to get some tiger swallowtail pupae and expose them to UV light for 1 minute and 5 minutes each day. You will also need to have a group that does not get any UV light. After the butterflies hatch, you will need to measure their size and color.
You will need tiger swallowtail pupae, a UV light source, and a way to measure the size and color of the butterflies.
Eureka Crate — engineering & invention kits for ages 12+ — monthly projects that build real-world skills. (Affiliate link)
The results showed that neither 1 minute nor 5 minutes of UV light affected the size or color of the butterflies. This suggests that UV light does not have an effect on the size or color of butterflies.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it shows how UV light affects the size and color of butterflies.
Also Consider
Experiment variations to consider include exposing the butterflies to different levels of UV light or different types of butterflies.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.
