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First published online February 20, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 1241-1248 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00874
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Magnetic orientation in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio and the effect of light

Martin Vácha* and Helena Soukopová

Comparative Physiology Department, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: vacha{at}sci.muni.cz)

Accepted 13 January 2004

There is evidence for both light-dependent and light-independent mechanisms of magnetoreception of terrestrial animals. One example of a light-independent mechanism frequently cited is the magnetic compass of the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor). We found that magnetoreception of the mealworm beetle per se is a replicable phenomenon but that, in contrast to earlier findings, Tenebrio only exhibited consistent magnetic compass orientation when light was present. The problem of whether the loss of orientation is due to a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism or is instead an effect of motivation change is discussed.

Key words: magnetoreception, light dependency, magnetic compass, mealworm beetle, Tenebrio




This article has been cited by other articles:


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Laboratory behavioural assay of insect magnetoreception: magnetosensitivity of Periplaneta americana
J. Exp. Biol., October 1, 2006; 209(19): 3882 - 3886.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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