An X-ray micro-computer tomography study of the Malpighian tubules of the Blue Bottle Blow Fly (Calliphora vomitoria) Diptera: Calliphoridae.

Malpighian tubules are the insect equivalent of mammalian kidneys and normally drain into the gut at the junction between the mid and hind gut. The Malpighian tubules of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster are increasingly being used as a model for studying human renal tract development, histology, nephrolithiasis and urolithiasis. In the present study we report when using X-ray micro-computer tomography techniques, the larval, intrapuparial and adult stages of the larger Calliphora vomitoria can contain large amounts of calcium-rich concretions which are tightly packed in the lumen of both anterior Malpighian tubules.

Use of X-ray micro-computed tomography to study the moult cycle of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex.

Stages of the moult cycle of the amphipod Gammarus pulex have been previously characterised based on the examination of either apolysis of the 3 dactyl, or the whole body and eye appearance. In the current study the aim was to compare these two established moult staging techniques with a novel X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scan method. The micro-CT provides information on the degree of calcification of the external integument and of the internal structures, such as the gastric mill.

Exposure of Insects to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields from 2 to 120 GHz.

Insects are continually exposed to Radio-Frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields at different frequencies. The range of frequencies used for wireless telecommunication systems will increase in the near future from below 6 GHz (2 G, 3 G, 4 G, and WiFi) to frequencies up to 120 GHz (5 G). This paper is the first to report the absorbed RF electromagnetic power in four different types of insects as a function of frequency from 2 GHz to 120 GHz.