Stingless Bee Antennae: A Magnetic Sensory Organ?

Lucano, M. J.; Cernicchiaro, G.; Wajnberg, Eliane; Esquivel, Darci M. S.

doi:10.1007/s10534-005-0520-4

Cited by 26 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Till now, nanoparticles have never been investigated in A. dorsata F. The above work clearly demonstrates the presence of nanoparticles on all three body parts of the Indian rock bee, although different from the nanoparticles previously reported by other researchers in honey bees, meliponinae bees or other insects (Alves et al, 2004;Wajnberg et al, 2004;Abracado et al, 2005;Desoil et al, 2005;Lucano et al, 2006;Hsu et al, 2007). According to Sharma et al (2011), the A. mellifera bee's thorax, abdomen and wings contain small Nanoparticles on the body of Apis dorsata Fabricius to large particles, with a size from 5 to 50 nm.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

“…They were assumed to be involved in magnetic field detection (Gould et al, 1980), probably due to iron protein ferritin and the ferrimagnetic responses of nanoscale magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) particles (Desoil et al, 2005). Nanoparticles were also found in body parts of other social insects, such as ants Abracado et al, 2005), termites (Alves et al, 2004), and meliponinae bees (Lucano et al, 2006). Nanoparticles, in general, demonstrate unique characteristics with elevated strength, high electrical conductivity, and extra chemical reactivity (Nykypanchuk et al, 2008), as well as distinctive chemical, physical, and biological properties (Leiderer & Dekorsy, 2008;Bhattacharyyal et al, 2008;Sabbour, 2013).…”

Section: Generalmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Bhattacharyya¹,

Viraktamath

Hatjina³

et al. 2016

Journal of Apicultural Science

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A b s t r a c tThe presence of nanoparticles on the body of the honeybee Apis dorsata Fabricius, was investigated for the first time to better understand the bee's behaviour. These have been observed by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Our study clearly denotes that the Indian rock honey bee Apis dorsata possess calcium silicate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles on its body surface of 5-50 nm in diameter. In particular, the nanoparticles on the abdomen and thorax of A. dorsata have an average diameter of about 10 nanometers and they are smaller than those found on wings of the same bees which are about 20 nanometers. The nanoparticles found are different of the ones previously observed on honey bees or other insects. The origin and role of these natural nanoparticles on the body of the Indian rock bee need to be to be further investigated; more research in the subject might raise important aspects in relation to the conservation of these unique pollinators.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Section: Generalmentioning

confidence: 99%

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Bhattacharyya¹,

Viraktamath

Hatjina³

et al. 2016

Journal of Apicultural Science

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“…This result, in conjunction with the presence of magnetic nanoparticles (Lucano et al 2006), suggests that the geomagnetic field is an orientational cue. Considering the magnitude of the temporal variation, the magnetic threshold that can be sensed is lower than the 250 g (2.50/4p A m…”

mentioning

confidence: 73%

Magnetoreception in eusocial insects: an update

Wajnberg

Acosta‐Avalos

Alves

et al. 2010

J. R. Soc. Interface.

110

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Behavioural experiments for magnetoreception in eusocial insects in the last decade are reviewed. Ants and bees use the geomagnetic field to orient and navigate in areas around their nests and along migratory paths. Bees show sensitivity to small changes in magnetic fields in conditioning experiments and when exiting the hive. For the first time, the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles found in eusocial insects, obtained by magnetic techniques and electron microscopy, are reviewed. Different magnetic oxide nanoparticles, ranging from superparamagnetic to multi-domain particles, were observed in all body parts, but greater relative concentrations in the abdomens and antennae of honeybees and ants have focused attention on these segments. Theoretical models for how these specific magnetosensory apparatuses function have been proposed. Neuron-rich ant antennae may be the most amenable to discovering a magnetosensor that will greatly assist research into higher order processing of magnetic information. The ferromagnetic hypothesis is believed to apply to eusocial insects, but interest in a light-sensitive mechanism is growing. The diversity of compass mechanisms in animals suggests that multiple compasses may function in insect orientation and navigation. The search for magnetic compasses will continue even after a magnetosensor is discovered in eusocial insects.

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“…an increase in experiments looking for the magnetic sensor [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Two main hypotheses of magnetic orientation have been proposed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the ferromagnetic hypothesis, the magnetic material in social insects has been studied [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. The magnetic moment was suggested to develop in the pupae state persisting in the adult of Apis mellifera honey bees [17], indicating that the magnetic material is constructed in an orderly way that might well suit it for use as a detector and points to a correlation between the magnetic material amount and function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

ZFC/FC of oriented magnetic material in the Solenopsis interrupta head with antennae: Characterization by FMR and SQUID

Esquivel

Wajnberg

2012

J Biol Phys

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Ferromagnetic resonance and SQUID magnetometry have been used to study magnetic material in the head with antennae, thorax, and abdomen of Solenopsis interrupta ants. The temperature dependence of the head with antennae using both techniques was measured. Room-temperature spectra and saturation magnetization were used to compare the magnetic material amount in the ant body parts. Both techniques show that the highest magnetic material fraction is in the head with antennae. The ordering temperature is observed at 100 ± 20 K for the ferromagnetic resonance spectra HF component. The estimated magnetic anisotropy constant K and g-values at room temperature are in good agreement with magnetite, supporting this material as the main magnetic particle constituent in the Solenopsis interrupta head with antenna. Particle diameters of 26 ± 2 nm and smaller than 14 nm were estimated. This work suggests that the head with antenna of the Solenopsis interrupta ant contains organized magnetic material and points to it as a good candidate as a magnetic sensor.

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Stingless Bee Antennae: A Magnetic Sensory Organ?

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

First identification of nanoparticles on thorax, abdomen and wings of the worker bee Apis dorsata Fabricius

Magnetoreception in eusocial insects: an update

ZFC/FC of oriented magnetic material in the Solenopsis interrupta head with antennae: Characterization by FMR and SQUID

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