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Levitt BB, Lai HC, Manville AM. Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on flora and fauna, Part 2 impacts: how species interact with natural and man-made EMF. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2022; 37:327-406. [PMID: 34243228 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ambient levels of nonionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF) have risen sharply in the last five decades to become a ubiquitous, continuous, biologically active environmental pollutant, even in rural and remote areas. Many species of flora and fauna, because of unique physiologies and habitats, are sensitive to exogenous EMF in ways that surpass human reactivity. This can lead to complex endogenous reactions that are highly variable, largely unseen, and a possible contributing factor in species extinctions, sometimes localized. Non-human magnetoreception mechanisms are explored. Numerous studies across all frequencies and taxa indicate that current low-level anthropogenic EMF can have myriad adverse and synergistic effects, including on orientation and migration, food finding, reproduction, mating, nest and den building, territorial maintenance and defense, and on vitality, longevity and survivorship itself. Effects have been observed in mammals such as bats, cervids, cetaceans, and pinnipeds among others, and on birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, microbes and many species of flora. Cyto- and geno-toxic effects have long been observed in laboratory research on animal models that can be extrapolated to wildlife. Unusual multi-system mechanisms can come into play with non-human species - including in aquatic environments - that rely on the Earth's natural geomagnetic fields for critical life-sustaining information. Part 2 of this 3-part series includes four online supplement tables of effects seen in animals from both ELF and RFR at vanishingly low intensities. Taken as a whole, this indicates enough information to raise concerns about ambient exposures to nonionizing radiation at ecosystem levels. Wildlife loss is often unseen and undocumented until tipping points are reached. It is time to recognize ambient EMF as a novel form of pollution and develop rules at regulatory agencies that designate air as 'habitat' so EMF can be regulated like other pollutants. Long-term chronic low-level EMF exposure standards, which do not now exist, should be set accordingly for wildlife, and environmental laws should be strictly enforced - a subject explored in Part 3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry C Lai
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Albert M Manville
- Advanced Academic Programs, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC Campus, USA
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2
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Ashbrook AR, Mikaelyan A, Schal C. Comparative Efficacy of a Fungal Entomopathogen with a Broad Host Range against Two Human-Associated Pests. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13090774. [PMID: 36135475 PMCID: PMC9505452 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The ability of a fungal entomopathogen to infect an insect depends on a variety of factors, including strain, host, and environmental conditions. Similarly, an insect’s ability to prevent fungal infection is dependent on its biology, environment, and evolutionary history. Synanthropic pests have adapted to thrive in the indoor environment, yet they arose from divergent evolutionary lineages and occupy different feeding guilds. The hematophagous bed bug (Cimex lectularius) and omnivorous German cockroach (Blattella germanica) are highly successful indoors, but have evolved different physiological and behavioral adaptations to cope with the human-built environment, some of which also reduce the efficacy of fungal biopesticides. In order to gain greater insight into the host barriers that prevent or constrain fungal infection in bed bugs and German cockroaches, we tested different doses of Beauveria bassiana GHA through surface contact, topical application, feeding, and injection. Bed bugs were generally more susceptible to infection by B. bassiana with the mode of delivery having a significant impact on infectivity. The German cockroach was highly resilient to infection, requiring high doses of fungal conidia (>8.8 × 104) delivered by injection into the hemocoel to cause mortality. Mortality occurred much faster in both insect species after exposure to surfaces dusted with dry conidia than surfaces treated with conidia suspended in water or oil. These findings highlight the importance of developing innovative delivery techniques to enhance fungal entomopathogens against bed bugs and cockroaches.
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3
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England SJ, Robert D. The ecology of electricity and electroreception. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 97:383-413. [PMID: 34643022 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Electricity, the interaction between electrically charged objects, is widely known to be fundamental to the functioning of living systems. However, this appreciation has largely been restricted to the scale of atoms, molecules, and cells. By contrast, the role of electricity at the ecological scale has historically been largely neglected, characterised by punctuated islands of research infrequently connected to one another. Recently, however, an understanding of the ubiquity of electrical forces within the natural environment has begun to grow, along with a realisation of the multitude of ecological interactions that these forces may influence. Herein, we provide the first comprehensive collation and synthesis of research in this emerging field of electric ecology. This includes assessments of the role electricity plays in the natural ecology of predator-prey interactions, pollination, and animal dispersal, among many others, as well as the impact of anthropogenic activity on these systems. A detailed introduction to the ecology and physiology of electroreception - the biological detection of ecologically relevant electric fields - is also provided. Further to this, we suggest avenues for future research that show particular promise, most notably those investigating the recently discovered sense of aerial electroreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam J England
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
| | - Daniel Robert
- School of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Building, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, U.K
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Khan SA, Khan KA, Kubik S, Ahmad S, Ghramh HA, Ahmad A, Skalicky M, Naveed Z, Malik S, Khalofah A, Aljedani DM. Electric field detection as floral cue in hoverfly pollination. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18781. [PMID: 34548579 PMCID: PMC8455601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pollinators can detect the color, shape, scent, and even temperature of the flowers they want to visit. Here, we present the previously unappreciated capacity of hoverflies (Eristalis tenax and Cheilosia albipila) to detect the electric field surrounding flowers. Using hoverflies as key dipteran pollinators, we explored the electrical interactions between flies and flowers-how a hoverfly acquired a charge and how their electrical sensing ability for target flowers contributed to nectar identification and pollination. This study revealed that rapid variations in a floral electric field were related to a nectar reward and increased the likelihood of the fly's return visits. We found that thoracic hairs played a role in the polarity of hoverfly charge, revealing their electro-mechanosensory capability, as in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Electrophysiological analysis of the hoverfly's antennae did not reveal neural sensitivity to the electric field, which favors the mechanosensory hairs as putative electroreceptive organs in both species of hoverflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahmshad Ahmed Khan
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Ali Khan
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Stepan Kubik
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Saboor Ahmad
- Laboratory of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, 46000, Pakistan.
- Institute of Apicultural Research/Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Hamed A Ghramh
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Unit of Bee Research and Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afzal Ahmad
- Department of Physics, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Milan Skalicky
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food, and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Prague, Czechia
| | - Zeenat Naveed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, 50700, Pakistan
| | - Sadia Malik
- Department of Biotechnology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Ahlam Khalofah
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dalal M Aljedani
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Matsuda Y, Nonomura T, Toyoda H. Turkestan Cockroaches Avoid Entering a Static Electric Field upon Perceiving an Attractive Force Applied to Antennae Inserted into the Field. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12070621. [PMID: 34357281 PMCID: PMC8303521 DOI: 10.3390/insects12070621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study analysed the mechanism of avoidance behaviour by adult Turkestan cockroaches (Shelfordella lateralis Walker) in response to a static electric field (S-EF) formed in the space between a negatively charged polyvinyl chloride-insulated iron plate (N-PIP) and a grounded metal net (G-MN). The negative surface charge supplied to the iron plate by a voltage generator caused the G-MN to polarise positively via electrostatic induction. In the S-EF, the negative charge of the N-PIP created a repulsive force that pushed free electrons in the field toward the ground via the G-MN. When insects released in the space surrounded by the S-EF inserted their antennae into the S-EF, they pulled them back reflexively and moved backward. The analysis indicated that an electric current flowed transiently toward the ground when an insect inserted its antennae into the S-EF. The insect became positively charged via this discharge and was attracted to the opposite pole (N-PIP). In response to this attractive force, the insect pulled its antennae back quickly. The positive electrification caused by the removal of free electrons from the antenna tip triggered the avoidance behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Matsuda
- Laboratory of Phytoprotection Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan;
- Correspondence:
| | - Teruo Nonomura
- Laboratory of Phytoprotection Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan;
| | - Hideyoshi Toyoda
- Research Association of Electric Field Screen Supporters, Nara 631-8505, Japan;
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Selective Arcing Electrostatically Eradicates Rice Weevils in Rice Grains. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12060522. [PMID: 34199841 PMCID: PMC8228487 DOI: 10.3390/insects12060522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Rice stored in warehouses is frequently attacked by rice weevils, which must therefore be controlled. We developed an electrostatic method as an alternative to pesticides. An arc discharge exposer (ADE) kills insects entering an electric field. The apparatus has pairs of identical metal plates, one of which is linked to a voltage generator for negative charging, the other is grounded. A −7 kV electric field forms between the two plates. When an insect enters the electric field it is arced by the charged plate and killed. We combined this method with a technique that lures insects hiding in rice grains. When a vessel containing rice and insects was rotated and then returned to the initial position, the weevils climbed up the vessel walls and entered the ADE. Dead insects were collected to minimize rice contamination. This method efficiently killed pests in stored rice. Abstract We developed an arc discharge exposer (ADE) that kills rice weevils nesting in dried rice. The ADE features multiple identical metal plates, half of these are linked to a voltage generator and the others are grounded. The plates were arrayed in parallel and an electric field formed between them. Any insect entering the field was arced from the negatively charged plate and killed. The ADE was placed on a vessel containing pest-infested rice grains; the insects were lured out of the grains by mechanically vibrating the vessel. When rice grains move, insects tend to climb upward, thus, the weevils were effectively removed. Our electrostatic apparatus is easy to construct and could be used to control pests in stored rice.
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Shepherd S, Jackson CW, Sharkh SM, Aonuma H, Oliveira EE, Newland PL. Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Entrain Locust Wingbeats. Bioelectromagnetics 2021; 42:296-308. [PMID: 33822398 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) have been shown to impact the behavior and physiology of insects. Recent studies have highlighted the need for more research to determine more specifically how they affect flying insects. Here, we ask how locust flight is affected by acute exposure to 50 Hz EMFs. We analyzed the flights of individual locusts tethered between a pair of copper wire coils generating EMFs of various frequency using high-speed video recording. The mean wingbeat frequency of tethered locusts was 18.92 ± 0.27 Hz. We found that acute exposure to 50 Hz EMFs significantly increased absolute change in wingbeat frequency in a field strength-dependent manner, with greater field strengths causing greater changes in wingbeat frequency. The effect of EMFs on wingbeat frequency depended on the initial wingbeat frequency of a locust, with locusts flying at a frequency lower than 20 Hz increasing their wingbeat frequency, while locusts flying with a wingbeat frequency higher than 20 Hz decreasing their wingbeat frequency. During the application of 50 Hz EMF, the wingbeat frequency was entrained to a 2:5 ratio (two wingbeat cycles to five EMF cycles) of the applied EMF. We then applied a range of ELF EMFs that were close to normal wingbeat frequency and found that locusts entrained to the exact frequency of the applied EMF. These results show that exposure to ELF EMFs lead to small but significant changes in wingbeat frequency in locusts. We discuss the biological implications of the coordination of insect flight in response to electromagnetic stimuli. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Shepherd
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Suleiman M Sharkh
- Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
| | - Hitoshi Aonuma
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Eugenio E Oliveira
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brasil
| | - Philip L Newland
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, UK
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Wu H, Chen Z, Xu G, Xu J, Wang Z, Zi Y. Fully Biodegradable Water Droplet Energy Harvester Based on Leaves of Living Plants. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:56060-56067. [PMID: 33264000 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have obtained soaring interest due to their capability for environmental energy harvesting. However, as a harvester for green energy, the frequent adoption of the hardly degradable plastic films is not desirable. Here, we report a fully biodegradable TENG (FBD-TENG) that all elements are made from natural substances, and the utilization of plastic materials is avoided. The leaf cuticle and the inside conductive tissue are utilized as the tribo-material and electrode for one part in the FBD-TENG, and water droplets are employed as the counterpart. By using water droplets to bridge the originally disconnected components into a closed-loop electrical system, we successfully collect energy from the droplet impact onto a plant leaf. The electricity generation phenomenon and the working mechanism of the FBD-TENG have been investigated. Five kinds of plants, as well as rain water droplets, are employed to demonstrate the wide availability of the proposed approach. This study provides a strategy to utilize the pervasively presented electrostatic charges in nature in an eco-friendly way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zefeng Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guoqiang Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianbin Xu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zuankai Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yunlong Zi
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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Hampel S, Eichler K, Yamada D, Bock DD, Kamikouchi A, Seeds AM. Distinct subpopulations of mechanosensory chordotonal organ neurons elicit grooming of the fruit fly antennae. eLife 2020; 9:e59976. [PMID: 33103999 PMCID: PMC7652415 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse mechanosensory neurons detect different mechanical forces that can impact animal behavior. Yet our understanding of the anatomical and physiological diversity of these neurons and the behaviors that they influence is limited. We previously discovered that grooming of the Drosophila melanogaster antennae is elicited by an antennal mechanosensory chordotonal organ, the Johnston's organ (JO) (Hampel et al., 2015). Here, we describe anatomically and physiologically distinct JO mechanosensory neuron subpopulations that each elicit antennal grooming. We show that the subpopulations project to different, discrete zones in the brain and differ in their responses to mechanical stimulation of the antennae. Although activation of each subpopulation elicits antennal grooming, distinct subpopulations also elicit the additional behaviors of wing flapping or backward locomotion. Our results provide a comprehensive description of the diversity of mechanosensory neurons in the JO, and reveal that distinct JO subpopulations can elicit both common and distinct behavioral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Hampel
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences CampusSan JuanPuerto Rico
| | - Katharina Eichler
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences CampusSan JuanPuerto Rico
| | - Daichi Yamada
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Davi D Bock
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine, University of VermontBurlingtonUnited States
| | - Azusa Kamikouchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityNagoyaJapan
| | - Andrew M Seeds
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences CampusSan JuanPuerto Rico
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Takikawa Y, Takami T, Kakutani K. Body Water-Mediated Conductivity Actualizes the Insect-Control Functions of Electric Fields in Houseflies. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11090561. [PMID: 32842496 PMCID: PMC7564027 DOI: 10.3390/insects11090561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The attractive forces generated in a static electric field, as well as corona and arc discharges generated in a dynamic electric field, are practical approaches for trapping and killing insects that enter the electric field. These electrostatic methods are realized by the conductive nature of the insect body. Thus, this work examined the role of body water on the conduction of electricity in the insect body. Adult houseflies (Musca domestica) were subjected to dehydration, rehydration, refrigeration, and freezing and thawing. These insects were then placed in static and dynamic electric fields to examine whether the release of negative charges from the insect caused attraction in the static field, as well as whether the fly was heated or dismembered when electricity passed through its body in a dynamic field. There was no current in the bodies of dehydrated and frozen flies; hence, there was no attractive force or discharge exposure. In the remaining insects, the results were identical to those in the control insects. Therefore, the conduction of electricity in the insect’s body water enables the insect-control effects of the electric fields. Abstract In the present study, the relationship between body water loss and conductivity was examined in adult houseflies (Musca domestica). The events an insect experiences in an electric field are caused by the conductive nature of the insect body (i.e., movement of electricity within or its release from the insect). After houseflies were dehydrated, rehydrated, refrigerated, and frozen and thawed, they were placed in static and dynamic electric fields. Untreated houseflies were deprived of their free electrons to become positively charged and then attracted to the insulated negative pole in the static electric field and were exposed to corona and arc discharge from non-insulated negative pole in the dynamic electric field. There was no current in the bodies of dehydrated and frozen flies; hence, there was no attractive force or discharge exposure. In the remaining insects, the results were identical to those in the untreated control insects. These results indicated that the reduction of body water conductivity inhibited the release of electricity from the body in the static electric field and the discharge-mediated current flow through the body in the dynamic electric field. The insect was affected by the electric fields because of its conductivity mediated by body water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Takikawa
- Plant Center, Institute of Advanced Technology, Kindai University, Wakayama 642-0017, Japan;
| | - Takeshi Takami
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic Jingumae, Nara 634-0804, Japan;
| | - Koji Kakutani
- Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Institute and Anti-Aging Centers, Kindai University, Osaka 577-8502, Japan
- Correspondence:
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Lapidot O, Bechar A, Ronen B, Ribak G. Can electrostatic fields limit the take-off of tiny whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)? J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 206:809-817. [PMID: 32725264 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01439-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Electrostatic fields are abundant in the natural environment. We tested the idea that electrostatic attraction forces between tiny whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the substrate could be substantial to the point of limiting their take-off. These insects are characterized by a very small body mass and powerful take-offs that are executed by jumping into the air with the wings closed. Wing opening and transition to active flight occur after the jump distanced the insect several body lengths away from the substrate. Using high-speed cameras, we captured the take-off behavior inside a uniform electrostatic field apparatus and used dead insects to calculate the electric charge that these tiny insects can carry. We show that electrostatic forces stimulate the opening of the insect's wings and can attract the whole insect toward the opposite charge. We also found that whiteflies can carry and hold an electrical charge of up to 3.5 pC. With such a charge the electrostatic field required to impede take-off is much stronger than those typically found in the natural environment. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that artificial electrostatic fields can be effectively used to suppress flight of whiteflies, thus providing options for pest control applications in greenhouses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omri Lapidot
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Avital Bechar
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Beni Ronen
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Gal Ribak
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, National Center for Biodiversity Studies, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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12
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High Voltage Electric Fields Have Potential to Create New Physical Pest Control Systems. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11070447. [PMID: 32679911 PMCID: PMC7411608 DOI: 10.3390/insects11070447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An electric field is the space surrounding an electric charge, within which it is capable of exerting a perceptible force on another electric charge. Especially under high voltage, electric fields induce various electrostatic phenomena, some of which could be utilized to provide remarkable pest control measures. The main focus of the present study was to introduce an attractive force generated by a surface charge on an insulated electrified conductor, which was successfully used to construct an electric field screen that prevented airborne nuisances (spores, flying insects, pollen, and fine smoke) from entering the interiors of various facilities. Another focus was the disinclination of insects to enter the electric field, thus, giving the electric field screen the ability to repel insects. Charges accumulated on the surfaces of non-insulated conductors are mobile through discharge, based on their potential difference. Such arc discharge was strong enough to destroy insects that were exposed to it. Some precedent illustrative examples are cited to explain the principles of attraction, dielectrophoretic movement of spores, and discharge-mediated positive electrification of insects, and to discuss how electric fields are generated and used in electric field-based pest control strategies.
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Analysis of Pole-Ascending-Descending Action by Insects Subjected to High Voltage Electric Fields. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11030187. [PMID: 32188072 PMCID: PMC7143742 DOI: 10.3390/insects11030187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to establish an electrostatic-based experimental system to enable new investigations of insect behavior. The instrument consists of an insulated conducting copper ring (ICR) linked to a direct current voltage generator to supply a negative charge to an ICR and a grounded aluminum pole (AP) passed vertically through the center of the horizontal ICR. An electric field was formed between the ICR and the AP. Rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) was selected as a model insect due to its habit of climbing erect poles. The electric field produced a force that could be imposed on the insect. In fact, the negative electricity (free electrons) was forced out of the insect to polarize its body positively. Eventually, the insect was attracted to the oppositely charged ICR. The force became weaker on the lower regions of the pole; the insects sensed the weaker force with their antennae, quickly stopped climbing, and retraced their steps. These behaviors led to a pole-ascending–descending action by the insect, which was highly reproducible and precisely corresponded to the changed expansion of the electric field. Other pole-climbing insects including the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), which was shown to adopt the same behavior.
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Perez Neider D, Fuse M, Suri G. Cockroaches, performance, and an audience: Reexamining social facilitation 50 years later. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2019.103851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Luo K, Luo C, Li G, Yao X, Gao R, Hu Z, Zhang G, Zhao H. High-voltage electrostatic field-induced oxidative stress: Characterization of the physiological effects in Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) across multiple generations. Bioelectromagnetics 2018; 40:52-61. [DOI: 10.1002/bem.22157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Chen Luo
- INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research); University Nice Sophia Antipolis; Sophia Antipolis France
| | - Guangyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Xinjian Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Rui Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Zuqing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Gaisheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
| | - Huiyan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas; Northwest A&F University; Yangling China
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16
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Schmiedchen K, Petri AK, Driessen S, Bailey WH. Systematic review of biological effects of exposure to static electric fields. Part II: Invertebrates and plants. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 160:60-76. [PMID: 28963966 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The construction of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines for the long-distance transport of energy is becoming increasingly popular. This has raised public concern about potential environmental impacts of the static electric fields (EF) produced under and near HVDC power lines. As the second part of a comprehensive literature analysis, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of static EF exposure on biological functions in invertebrates and plants and to provide the basis for an environmental impact assessment of such exposures. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to guide the methodological conduct and reporting. RESULTS Thirty-three studies - 14 invertebrate and 19 plant studies - met the eligibility criteria and were included in this review. The reported behavioral responses of insects and planarians upon exposure strongly suggest that invertebrates are able to perceive the presence of a static EF. Many other studies reported effects on physiological functions that were expressed as, for example, altered metabolic activity or delayed reproductive and developmental stages in invertebrates. In plants, leaf damage, alterations in germination rates, growth and yield, or variations in the concentration of essential elements, for example, have been reported. However, these physiological responses and changes in plant morphology appear to be secondary to surface stimulation by the static EF or caused by concomitant parameters of the electrostatic environment. Furthermore, all of the included studies suffered from methodological flaws, which lowered credibility in the results. CONCLUSION At field levels encountered from natural sources or HVDC lines (< 35kV/m), the available data provide reliable evidence that static EF can trigger behavioral responses in invertebrates, but they do not provide evidence for adverse effects of static EF on other biological functions in invertebrates and plants. At far higher field levels (> 35kV/m), adverse effects on physiology and morphology, presumably caused by corona-action, appear to be more likely. Higher quality studies are needed to unravel the role of air ions, ozone, nitric oxide and corona current on alterations in physiological functions and morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Schmiedchen
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Anne-Kathrin Petri
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Sarah Driessen
- Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - William H Bailey
- Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Risk Assessment, Exponent, 17000 Science Drive, Suite 200, Bowie, MD 20715, USA.
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17
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Luo K, Cao Z, Gao R, He J, Li GY, Gao HH, Zhang GS, Zhao HY. Direct Exposure of Wheat Seeds to High-Voltage Electrostatic Fields Adversely Affects the Performance of Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 109:2418-2423. [PMID: 27780837 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tow227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Exposing seeds to a high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) may influence the performance of herbivores and improve the germination rate by inducing biological and physiological changes in plants. In the current study, an age-stage, two-sex life table was established to evaluate the effects from directly exposing seeds to HVEFs on the performance of apterous Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) reared on winter wheat. We treated the wheat seeds by exposing them to an HVEF for 20 min at three intensities: 2, 4, or 6 KV/cm. Controls received no treatment (0 KV/cm). The results indicated that the parameters of the net reproductive rate (R0), the intrinsic rate of increase (r), and the mean generation span (T) of S. avenae were significantly reduced by HVEFs through multiple generations. In addition, the age-specific survival rate (lx) and comparison with the results of a Weibull equation analysis suggested that S. avenae had the shortest life span when seeds were exposed to an HVEF at 4 KV/cm. Overall, these findings indicated that direct exposure of wheat seeds to an HVEF at 4 KV/cm could adversely affect the performance of S. avenae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Zhu Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Rui Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Juan He
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Guang-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Huan-Huan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Gai-Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology in Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, No. 3 Taicheng Rd., Yangling 712100, P. R. China (; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
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18
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Electric fields of flowers stimulate the sensory hairs of bumble bees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7020-1. [PMID: 27325771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607426113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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19
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Mechanosensory hairs in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) detect weak electric fields. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7261-5. [PMID: 27247399 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1601624113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) use information from surrounding electric fields to make foraging decisions. Electroreception in air, a nonconductive medium, is a recently discovered sensory capacity of insects, yet the sensory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate two putative electric field sensors: antennae and mechanosensory hairs. Examining their mechanical and neural response, we show that electric fields cause deflections in both antennae and hairs. Hairs respond with a greater median velocity, displacement, and angular displacement than antennae. Extracellular recordings from the antennae do not show any electrophysiological correlates to these mechanical deflections. In contrast, hair deflections in response to an electric field elicited neural activity. Mechanical deflections of both hairs and antennae increase with the electric charge carried by the bumblebee. From this evidence, we conclude that sensory hairs are a site of electroreception in the bumblebee.
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20
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Newland PL, Al Ghamdi MS, Sharkh S, Aonuma H, Jackson CW. Exposure to static electric fields leads to changes in biogenic amine levels in the brains of Drosophila. Proc Biol Sci 2016. [PMID: 26224706 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic static electric fields are commonly found in the environment and can have both beneficial and harmful effects on many animals. Here, we asked how the fruitfly responds to these fields and what the consequences of exposure are on the levels of biogenic amines in the brain. When given a choice in a Y-tube bioassay Drosophila avoided electric fields, and the greater the field strength the more likely Drosophila were to avoid it. By comparing wild-type flies, flies with wings surgically removed and vestigial winged flies we found that the presence of intact wings was necessary to produce avoidance behaviour. We also show that Coulomb forces produced by electric fields physically lift excised wings, with the smaller wings of males being raised by lower field strengths than larger female wings. An analysis of neurochemical changes in the brains showed that a suite of changes in biogenic amine levels occurs following chronic exposure. Taken together we conclude that physical movements of the wings are used by Drosophila in generating avoidance behaviour and are accompanied by changes in the levels of amines in the brain, which in turn impact on behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L Newland
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mesfer S Al Ghamdi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suleiman Sharkh
- Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Hitoshi Aonuma
- Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
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21
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Chrisman SD, Waite CB, Scoville AG, Carnell L. C. elegans Demonstrates Distinct Behaviors within a Fixed and Uniform Electric Field. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151320. [PMID: 26998749 PMCID: PMC4801214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
C. elegans will orient and travel in a straight uninterrupted path directly towards the negative pole of a DC electric field. We have sought to understand the strategy worms use to navigate to the negative pole in a uniform electric field that is fixed in both direction and magnitude. We examined this behavior by quantifying three aspects of electrotaxis behavior in response to different applied field strengths: the mean approach trajectory angles of the animals’ tracks, turning behavior (pirouettes) and average population speeds. We determined that C. elegans align directly to the negative pole of an electric field at sub-preferred field strength and alter approach trajectories at higher field strengths to maintain taxis within a preferred range we have calculated to be ~ 5V/cm. We sought to identify the sensory neurons responsible for the animals’ tracking to a preferred field strength. eat-4 mutant animals defective in glutamatergic signaling of the amphid sensory neurons are severely electrotaxis defective and ceh-36 mutant animals, which are defective in the terminal differentiation of two types of sensory neurons, AWC and ASE, are partially defective in electrotaxis. To further elucidate the role of the AWC neurons, we examined the role of each of the pair of AWC neurons (AWCOFF and AWCON), which are functionally asymmetric and express different genes. nsy-5/inx-19 mutant animals, which express both neurons as AWCOFF, are severely impaired in electrotaxis behavior while nsy-1 mutants, which express both neurons as AWCON, are able to differentiate field strengths required for navigation to a specific field strength within an electric field. We also tested a strain with targeted genetic ablation of AWC neurons and found that these animals showed only slight disruption of directionality and turning behavior. These results suggest a role for AWC neurons in which complete loss of function is less disruptive than loss of functional asymmetry in electrotaxis behavior within a uniform fixed field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D. Chrisman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, United States of America
| | - Christopher B. Waite
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alison G. Scoville
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lucinda Carnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Hampel S, Franconville R, Simpson JH, Seeds AM. A neural command circuit for grooming movement control. eLife 2015; 4:e08758. [PMID: 26344548 PMCID: PMC4599031 DOI: 10.7554/elife.08758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals perform many stereotyped movements, but how nervous systems are organized for controlling specific movements remains unclear. Here we use anatomical, optogenetic, behavioral, and physiological techniques to identify a circuit in Drosophila melanogaster that can elicit stereotyped leg movements that groom the antennae. Mechanosensory chordotonal neurons detect displacements of the antennae and excite three different classes of functionally connected interneurons, which include two classes of brain interneurons and different parallel descending neurons. This multilayered circuit is organized such that neurons within each layer are sufficient to specifically elicit antennal grooming. However, we find differences in the durations of antennal grooming elicited by neurons in the different layers, suggesting that the circuit is organized to both command antennal grooming and control its duration. As similar features underlie stimulus-induced movements in other animals, we infer the possibility of a common circuit organization for movement control that can be dissected in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Hampel
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Romain Franconville
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
| | - Julie H Simpson
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States
| | - Andrew M Seeds
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States
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23
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Lihoreau M, Raine NE. Bee positive: the importance of electroreception in pollinator cognitive ecology. Front Psychol 2013; 4:445. [PMID: 23882246 PMCID: PMC3713399 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Lihoreau
- School of Biological Sciences and the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
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24
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Greggers U, Koch G, Schmidt V, Dürr A, Floriou-Servou A, Piepenbrock D, Göpfert MC, Menzel R. Reception and learning of electric fields in bees. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20130528. [PMID: 23536603 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.0528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees, like other insects, accumulate electric charge in flight, and when their body parts are moved or rubbed together. We report that bees emit constant and modulated electric fields when flying, landing, walking and during the waggle dance. The electric fields emitted by dancing bees consist of low- and high-frequency components. Both components induce passive antennal movements in stationary bees according to Coulomb's law. Bees learn both the constant and the modulated electric field components in the context of appetitive proboscis extension response conditioning. Using this paradigm, we identify mechanoreceptors in both joints of the antennae as sensors. Other mechanoreceptors on the bee body are potentially involved but are less sensitive. Using laser vibrometry, we show that the electrically charged flagellum is moved by constant and modulated electric fields and more strongly so if sound and electric fields interact. Recordings from axons of the Johnston organ document its sensitivity to electric field stimuli. Our analyses identify electric fields emanating from the surface charge of bees as stimuli for mechanoreceptors, and as biologically relevant stimuli, which may play a role in social communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Greggers
- Institut für Biologie, AG Neurobiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Strasse 28-30, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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25
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Jackson CW, Hunt E, Sharkh S, Newland PL. Static electric fields modify the locomotory behaviour of cockroaches. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 214:2020-6. [PMID: 21613518 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.053470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Static electric fields are found throughout the environment and there is growing interest in how electric fields influence insect behaviour. Here we have analysed the locomotory behaviour of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in response to static electric fields at levels equal to and above those found in the natural environment. Walking behaviour (including velocity, distance moved, turn angle and time spent walking) were analysed as cockroaches approached an electric field boundary in an open arena, and also when continuously exposed to an electric field. On approaching an electric field boundary, the greater the electric field strength the more likely a cockroach would be to turn away from, or be repulsed by, the electric field. Cockroaches completely exposed to electric fields showed significant changes in locomotion by covering less distance, walking slowly and turning more often. This study highlights the importance of electric fields on the normal locomotory behaviour of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Jackson
- School of Biological Sciences, Building 85, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO16 7PX, UK
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26
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Abstract
The five sensory modalities of humans are also found in a wide range of invertebrates. Other vertebrates have evolved additional special senses, such as the magnetic sense, which are also found in some invertebrates. However, there remain a few sensory abilities that curiously appear to be found in either vertebrates or invertebrates, but not both. For example, electrosensitivity - the ability to detect electric fields in water - which should benefit vertebrates and invertebrates alike, is apparently only used by vertebrates. However, recent reports suggest that some invertebrates could have an electric sense. Here we examine that possibility further and demonstrate a behavioural threshold to low-level electrical fields in two freshwater invertebrates. The responses are not low enough for them to detect the Earth's magnetic field as some other electroreceptive species can do, but sufficiently low for them to use in navigation or prey and predator detection. This finding challenges the current view of the sensory world of aquatic invertebrates and has implications for the evolution of this ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- B W Patullo
- Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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