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Importance of antennae for orientation of insects in a non-uniform microwave electromagnetic field

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Abstract

MICROWAVES can affect living organisms in different ways1. Radiation of high intensity is lethal, due to the thermal effect on the living tissues. Different organs are selectively sensitive both in vertebrates2 and in insects3. Behavioural studies with rats have demonstrated that, in a choice situation, the animals will respond to an electromagnetic field of a rather low intensity, by leaving it4. Our investigations revealed that insects respond to the intensity gradient of a non-uniform microwave electromagnetic field in a similar way. In an arena illuminated by a non-uniform field insects carry out oriented movements avoiding the regions which are more intensely illuminated. In this paper we analyse the involvement of antennae in the orientation mechanisms underlying the avoidance response.

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References

  1. Johnson, C. C., and Guy, A. W., Proc. IEEE, 60, 692 (1972).

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  2. Michaelson, S. M., in Biological Effects and Health Hazards of Microwave Radiation, 1 (edit. by Czerski, et al.), (Polish Medical Publishers, Warsaw, 1974).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Entomology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Viničná 7, 120 00, Praha, 2

    JAROSLAV ONDRÁČEK, JAN ŽDÁREK & VLADIMÍR LANDA

  2. Institute of Plasma Physics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Nademlýnská 600, 180 69, Praha, 9, Czechoslovakia

    JIŘÍ DATLOV

Authors
  1. JAROSLAV ONDRÁČEK
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  2. JAN ŽDÁREK
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  3. VLADIMÍR LANDA
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  4. JIŘÍ DATLOV
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ONDRÁČEK, J., ŽDÁREK, J., LANDA, V. et al. Importance of antennae for orientation of insects in a non-uniform microwave electromagnetic field. Nature 260, 522–523 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260522a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/260522a0

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