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15 the basis for
per cent activity calculations. Temperature and relative humidity
Relative humidites
and temperatures were recorded and were taken in the immediate proximity of
laboratory experiments. The first
laboratory experiment was conducted in an outdoor insectary between the 4th
and 22nd of July where there were extreme fluctuations in temperature and
humidity. The temperature during this
time exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit each day, only to be frequently followed by abrupt drops to less than
60 degrees Fahrenheit in the same evening.
Similarly, the relative humidity varied greatly during this
period. Only in rare instances would
it exceed 60 per cent and then only in the early part of the morning before
sunrise. The lowest readings were
always recorded in the early afternoon when the relative humidity would
frequently drop to percentages in the lower twenties. The second,
third and fourth laboratory experiments were conducted in a greenhouse which
afforded a more favorable environment with respect to maintenance of earwigs in
an active state. Atmospheric conditions in the greenhouse were regulated to a
large extent by water coolers and by soaking the sand under the petri dishes
with water. The temperature in the
greenhouse never exceeded 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with the lows recorded being
on t he average in the middle fifties.
The relative humidity was high at all times and was never allowed to
drop below 48 per cent. The relative
humidity in the petri dishes where the earwigs were confined was somewhat
higher than recorded by the apparatus due to the presence of a water-soaked
piece of cellucotton each dish. |