Lethal Effects of Radiofrequency Energy on Eggs of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)1

One- and 3-day-old Tenebrio molitor L. eggs were exposed in special polystyrene holders to radiofrequency (RF) electric fields of different intensities for periods ranging from 2 to 64 seconds. The percent eggs hatched, percent survival of larvae to 10 days, and embryological development were observed following exposure to these RF electric fields. Percent hatch of 1- and 3-day-old T. molitor eggs exposed to RF energy was in general inversely related to the RF energy level. One-day-old eggs were more susceptible than 3-day-old eggs. When the larval stage was attained, interference with normal developmental processes was not apparent. Histological preparations of embryos exposed to RF fields showed that injury to the blastoderm and the germ band depended upon the age of the egg at the time of treatment and indicated that RF treatment adversely affected further embryological development.