Monday 20 June 2016

MAGNETIC FIELD EFFECT ON THE METABOLISM AND ENZYME ACTIVITY IN SOME HARMFUL INSECTS

. Effect of the magnetic field on the physiological aspects of some insects was studied for larvae of three insects reared in laboratory under 25 ±2°C and 70 ±5% RH in suitable rearing boxes. An experimental set-up was designed to measure the magnetic flux density in the rearing box. The magnetic field was calibrated to obtain the point of the maximum gradient. Magnetic flux density was measured using a Tesla meter and recorded average values of 21.8, 249 and 863 Gauss (G) for the 3 insects respectively. The three insects were: cotton leaf warm, S. littoralis, red palm weevil, R. ferrugineus and the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella. Rearing insects started with a suitable larval instar. Numbers of larvae (form each insect) divided into 2 similar and equal groups, the first reared as a control (without magnetic field), while the second group was exposed to the magnetic field, (MF) along rearing periods. An appropriate numbers of larvae from the control and the treated ones were taken for Bio-chemical analysis and the main parameters were recorded. The measured physiological parameters were: total protein, total carbohydrates, total lipids, invertase enzyme and alkaline phosphatase. Results showed that each of body weight and growth rate as well as the physiological aspects was affected with the magnetic field. Rate of growth was negatively affected as it decreased in cotton leaf worm and red palm weevil. Results also demonstrated that invertase enzyme decreased in the treated larvae of S. littoralis ans G. mellonella with 40.15% and 28.33% respectively lower than the control. In the same time, magnetic field led to increase the invertase enzyme in R. ferrugineus with 71.6% higher than the control samples. In spite of the strong magnetic flux around the larvae of G. mellonella their influence was limited. This may be due to the special behaviour of the worms as they of internal presence and entrance inside the rearing media for these larvae. - See more at: .

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