Animals that Live in Pine Cones
[30 Minutes]
Conifers, or plants and trees that produce seed bearing cones (pine), have been around since the Paleozoic Era. Conifers are thought to have been the source of food for sauropods, the plant-eating dinosaurs. Conifer trees include fir, pine, redwood, and yew. Some animals actually live in these pine cones. Try this experiment to observe what lives in a pine cone. You will need 7-10 days for this experiment.
You'll need:
kitchen tongs kitchen funnel tweezers magnifying glass (optional) 1 large wide-mouth jar 1 small baby food jar or other small jar, well rinsed and clean 1 25-watt bulb a clip on lamp (such as a clip on bed lamp) paper towel 2 - 4 pine cones
What to do:
- If possible, print out these directions. Read them through together before you begin.
- Gather everything you’ll need and always remember science safety.
- Use the tweezers to place the small jar inside the larger jar.
- Place the funnel in the large jar. The funnel should be large enough so that it sticks over the edges.
- Put the pine cones in the funnel.
- Place the light about 2 - 4 inches above the pine cone.
- Leave the light on for 7 - 10 days.
- Remove the funnel. Then remove the small jar.
- You will see that animals have fallen into the small jar.
- Use the tweezers to place the animals on the paper towels.
- You may wish to observe them under a magnifying glass.
- When you have finished observing the animals, return them to the outdoors.
- You could also try this experiment using different types of pine cones.
- Compare the different types of animals that emerge from the pine cones.
Useful information:
My dad and I tried this experiment just for fun. We were very surprised as to what was living in these pine cones. Some of the insects we found were so small we used a magnifying glass to look at them. (Dylan, age 13)
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