1st Place: Effects of a pulsed electromagnetic field on limb regeneration in Coleomegilla maculata

Lady bird beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are abundant throughout the United States, both as native and invasive species. A few recent studies explored the regeneration of coccinellids’ limbs, which occurs during the pupal stage of development (Wu et al. 2015). Coleomegilla maculata is a native species of coccinellid that is abundant in North America, and it has showcased excellent regenerative abilities (Michaud et al. 2020). I will examine limb regeneration in C. maculata more closely by determining the effects of a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) on regeneration and general development. I believe PEMF will impact regeneration by slowing down the life cycle and causing defects in the regenerated limb, due to the impact of PEMF on other invertebrates’ development (Levin and Ernst 1997). However, due to some unexpected PEMF results on other animals, PEMF may actually increase the speed of regeneration or cause no changes to the regeneration process. A greater understanding of coccinellids’ limb regeneration will increase general understanding about regeneration in other holometabolous insects as well, since extensive PEMF research has not been done on insect limbs.