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The influence of static magnetic field (50 mT) on development and motor behaviour of Tenebrio (Insecta, Coleoptera)

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Todorović D, Marković T, Prolić Z, Mihajlović S, Rauš S, Nikolić L, Janać B. · 2013

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Static magnetic fields 1,000 times Earth's strength altered beetle behavior, demonstrating that magnetic fields can affect nervous system function in living organisms.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed beetle pupae to a 50 milliTesla static magnetic field (about 1,000 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field) to study development and behavior. While the magnetic field didn't affect how long it took beetles to develop from pupae to adults, it did alter their movement patterns and activity levels once they became adults. This suggests that even non-radiofrequency magnetic fields can influence nervous system function in living organisms.

Why This Matters

This study adds to growing evidence that magnetic fields can affect biological systems, even at the cellular and behavioral level. The 50 milliTesla exposure used here is much stronger than typical household EMF sources, but the fact that static magnetic fields altered nervous system-controlled behaviors in these insects demonstrates the biological relevance of magnetic field exposure. What makes this research particularly interesting is that the effects differed depending on which magnetic pole the insects were closer to, suggesting that magnetic field orientation matters for biological impact. While we can't directly extrapolate from beetle studies to human health, this research supports the broader scientific understanding that living organisms are sensitive to electromagnetic environments. The reality is that if magnetic fields can alter behavior in insects, we should take seriously the possibility that the much more complex electromagnetic exposures in our daily lives could affect human physiology as well.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
50 mG

Exposure Context

This study used 50 mG for magnetic fields:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 50 mGExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern rangeFCC limit is 40x higher than this level

Study Details

There is considerable concern about potential effects associated with exposure to magnetic fields on organisms. Therefore, duration of pupa-adult development and motor behaviour of adults were analyzed in Tenebrio obscursus and T. molitor after exposure to static magnetic field (50 mT).

The experimental groups were: Control (kept 5 m from the magnets), groups which pupae and adults wer...

Static magnetic field did not affect pupa-adult developmental dynamic of examined Tenebrio species. ...

Static magnetic field (50 mT) did not affect on pupa-adult development dynamic of two examined Tenebrio species, but modulated their motor behaviour.

Cite This Study
Todorović D, Marković T, Prolić Z, Mihajlović S, Rauš S, Nikolić L, Janać B. (2013). The influence of static magnetic field (50 mT) on development and motor behaviour of Tenebrio (Insecta, Coleoptera) Int J Radiat Biol 2013; 89 (1): 44-50.
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2013_the_influence_of_static_307,
  author = {Todorović D and Marković T and Prolić Z and Mihajlović S and Rauš S and Nikolić L and Janać B.},
  title = {The influence of static magnetic field (50 mT) on development and motor behaviour of Tenebrio (Insecta, Coleoptera)},
  year = {2013},
  doi = {10.3109/09553002.2012.715786},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09553002.2012.715786},
}
DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2012.715786

Cited By (16 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

No, a 50 milliTesla static magnetic field did not affect how long it took Tenebrio beetles to develop from pupae to adults. However, the magnetic field did alter their movement patterns and activity levels once they became adults, suggesting nervous system effects.
Yes, static magnetic fields at 50 milliTesla (1,000 times Earth's magnetic field strength) altered beetle movement patterns in a 2013 study. The behavioral changes varied depending on whether beetles developed near the magnetic field's north or south pole.
Yes, research on Tenebrio beetles exposed to 50 milliTesla static magnetic fields showed altered motor behavior in adults, demonstrating that even non-radiofrequency magnetic fields can influence nervous system function without affecting developmental timing.
Yes, Tenebrio molitor beetles showed opposite behavioral changes depending on whether they developed closer to the north pole or south pole of a 50 milliTesla magnetic dipole, indicating that magnetic field orientation matters for biological effects.
Beetle pupae exposed to 50 milliTesla static magnetic fields developed normally but showed altered movement patterns as adults. The magnetic field didn't change development speed but did modulate their motor behavior and activity levels.