Straight Line Lab

The termites seemed to focus and not become disoriented by the straight line. However, the sharp angle line seemed to confuse the termites. According to Joe Culin, from the Department of Entomology at Clemson University, “Termites are better at following relatively straight or gently curved lines rather than those containing sharp angles”(Culin). In the lab the termites were tested on a straight line and another line, which had closely drawn sharp angles. With this information in mind, that would explain why the termites followed the “zig zag” line, but were disoriented by the sharp angles. Instead of following the angles, the termites continued to go straight passed the angle until stoping and going back to the angle where they would become confused again. The hypothesis was that line …show more content…
Thus, the termites followed, but were disoriented at the sharp angle. The hypothesis is supported because to some extent the termites managed to follow both the straight and sharp lines. According to Sheryl F. Shanholtzer and Marsha E. Fanning, “…a pheromone-like chemical in the ink formulation of pens”(Shanholtzer and Fanning) causes the termites to follow the line. This chemical is used to lead other termites along the path and not get lost, which would explain why the termites followed each other along the red line (Traniello). The chemical in the red pen mimics the smell of the pheromone- like chemical. The termites followed the lines because of the chemicals that were in the Pentel Pen. Moreover, termites will follow mostly any straight or rounded line that is drawn by some pens. Lastly, if this experiment was repeated with the same sharp angled line and a more rounded angled line, the termites will most likely follow the more rounded angled line. Thus a new hypothesis can be made that states that termites will follow lines that mostly don't have sharp