Chronic exposure of the tobacco hornworm to pulsed microwaves, effects on development

Abstract

AbstractTobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) were exposed during their larval life to 4 mW/cm2 (SAR = 23 W/Kg) circularly polarized pulsed microwaves (2695 MHz, 2 μS, 500 pps) for 12 hours a day in an environmentally controlled anechoic chamber. Following the irradiation period, various insect development parameters were monitored until the next generation was produced. Microwaves did not have any influence on food consumption of the larvae, but larval weight, mortality and the rate of development during the successive larval stages were affected. There was no occurrence of deformities. No effect could be detected on pupal development, sex ratio and mortality. Adult insect fertility and fecundity were not affected by electromagnetic energy deposition.