TY - JOUR
T1 - A Preliminary Report on the Use of Bench-Top X-Ray Micro-Computerised Tomography to Study the Malpighian Tubules of the Overwintering Seven Spotted Ladybird Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
AU - Bell, Duncan
AU - Woolnough, Lewis
AU - Mortimore, David
AU - Corps, Nick
AU - Hudson, Diana M.
AU - Greco, Mark K.
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - The application of micro-CT scanning techniques on a small sample of “Seven-spot ladybirds” Coccinella septempunctata, collected in December 2009, identified an accumulation of material with a very high, relative X-ray attenuation value in the malpighian tubules of most but not all of the individuals sampled. The passage of metals such as cadmium in soil through a food chain to finally accumulate in high concentrations in ladybirds and lacewings has been previously reported. The identification of the dense material found in our sample of ladybirds, its origin, and the process by which it accumulates in, and is processed by, the malpighian tubules is the challenge ahead. The authors speculate that a straightforward means of monitoring levels of metallic pollutants in the environment might emerge.
AB - The application of micro-CT scanning techniques on a small sample of “Seven-spot ladybirds” Coccinella septempunctata, collected in December 2009, identified an accumulation of material with a very high, relative X-ray attenuation value in the malpighian tubules of most but not all of the individuals sampled. The passage of metals such as cadmium in soil through a food chain to finally accumulate in high concentrations in ladybirds and lacewings has been previously reported. The identification of the dense material found in our sample of ladybirds, its origin, and the process by which it accumulates in, and is processed by, the malpighian tubules is the challenge ahead. The authors speculate that a straightforward means of monitoring levels of metallic pollutants in the environment might emerge.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862292307&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/348348
U2 - 10.1155/2012/348348
DO - 10.1155/2012/348348
M3 - Article
SN - 0033-2615
VL - 2012
JO - Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
JF - Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
M1 - 348348
ER -