title: Evidence for the presence of biogenic magnetic particles in the nocturnal migratory brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.
abstract: Biogenic magnetic particles have been detected in some migratory insects, which implies the basis of magnetoreception mechanism for orientation and navigation. Here, the biogenic magnetic particles in the migratory brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens were qualitatively measured by SQUID magnetometry, and their characteristics were further determined by Prussian Blue staining, electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The results indicate that there were remarkable magnetic materials in the abdomens and not in the head or thorax of the 3(rd)-5(th) instar nymphs, and in macropterous and brachypterous female and male adults of BPH. The size of magnetic particles was shown to be between 50-450 nm with a shape factor estimate of between 0.8-1.0 for all the tested BPHs. Moreover, the amount of magnetic particles was associated with the developmental stage (the 3(rd)-5(th) instar), wing form (macropterous vs. brachypterous) and sex. The macropterous female adults had the largest amount of magnetic particles. Although the existence of magnetic particles in the abdomens of BPH provides sound basis for the assumption of magnetic orientation, further behavioral studies and complementary physical characterization experiments should be conducted to determine whether the orientation behavior of BPH is associated with the magnetic particles detected in this study.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Guijun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Fajun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007501:Iron