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Five bacteria, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Sarcina flava, were tested for establishment in the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, using a fluorescent screening technique. Through literature research some of the above bacteria were known to establish in the mealworm.The various test bacteria were dyed with Calcofluor white, a fluorescent dye, and introduced to the mealworm by several techniques. Oral injection, anal injection, drop on head, and petri dish methods were attempted. The best method of bacterial entry into the insect was found to be the drop on head. Since few bacteria were ingested by the insect, a quantitative analysis was impossible.It was found that as the dyed bacteria grew, fluorescence decreased. This was substantiated by allowing dyed Sarcina flava to grow at 37 degrees C. in nutrient broth and examining every hour for ten hours.Although this study did not show a definite screening technique for bacterial establishment in Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, the results from this project could aid researchers in developing such a technique.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306 |
