Medical Physics Seminar – Monday, October 31, 2011
Imaging the Hungry Caterpillar
Ian Rowland, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Physics, UW-School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI USA
The tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) is considered to be the ‘white rat’ of the entomology world. This model insect’s mass in the late larval stage (>10g) makes it suitable for MR imaging investigations. In the presentation, the development of the hornworm from its 4th instar larval stage through to the pupal stage and subsequent adult moth will be described using MR imaging. Special attention will be given to the insect’s mid-gut since it remains a target for insecticides throughout each stage of development. The effects of an organic insecticide on the mid-gut will also be presented.