Thermodynamic Mysteries: Seed Bugs, Evergreen Trees, and Thermal Radiation

We have seen that Western conifer seed bugs are pests, entering unwanted into buildings whenever it begins to get cold. Though they aren't dangerous, they are annoying. Western conifer seed bugs are so named because of their preference for their favorite food, the seeds found inside cones such as pine trees. These preferences can cause them to destroy up to 95% of the trees they dine on.

In an attempt to understand why the bugs are attracted to buildings, researchers from Simon Fraser University devised a series of experiments based on the insect's eating habits. They found, to their amazement, that the bugs have a sophisticated heat sensing system on their stomachs that helps them find food.

While heat-sensing bugs are not unknown, this is the first time that seed bugs have been found to specialize in using heat or infrared radiation to detect their main food source.

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The Sun is the most important source, but everything that is above 0 K or absolute Kelvin emits radiation. This includes books, ice, plants, and concrete. The Sun itself emits light in the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet ranges.

Infrared waves are heat waves, and they are of extremely high frequencies. These frequencies are higher than that of radio waves, but less than that of visible light. They also have wavelengths longer than visible light, with lengths from 7 x 10^-7 m to 1 mm. When objects absorb energy from these waves, this causes the atoms inside of them to vibrate and produce heat.

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Using scanning electron microscopy, they found special infrared receptors on the abdominal segments of the bugs. When they blocked radiation from the receptors by covering them with silica paint, the insects were no longer able to detect infrared. Dissection showed that the nervous systems in the abdomens of the bugs led clearly to the brain. These built-in infrared sensors are why the seed-eating bugs can detect the cones not only at day, but also at dawn and dusk. Further experiments done on them show a marked preference for infrared, the hotter the better, which is why seed bugs love to migrate inside buildings when it begins to turn cold.

Studying the behavior of these insects can help us eventually develop a way to keep them out of buildings, and to prevent them from destroying so many evergreens. Researchers also believe this will help us to understand other IR detecting insects, including mosquitoes, moths, and flies.

Conceptual Physics by Paul Hewitt

Heat Sensors Guide Insects to a Hot Meal

Infrared radiation from hot cones on cool conifers attracts seed-feeding insects by Stephen Takács et. al., Proc. R. Soc. B 22 February 2009 vol. 276 no. 1657

Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics by Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett, Jr.

The Peak, Simon Fraser U's Independent Newspaper

Image Credits

Western Conifer Seed Bug by Giancarlo Dessi

Infrared Tree, photo by Lisak Andreller and thermography by Stephen Takács, Simon Fraser University

Western Conifer Seed Bug Video (Warning: For Insect Lovers Only!)