Isolation of magnetic nanoparticles from Pachycondyla marginata ants

We report on the presence of magnetic iron oxides in the migratory ant Pach ycondyla marginata, Magnetic particles were extracted from different parts of the ant (head, thorax and abdomen) using magnetic precipitation methods. Electron spectroscopic images for iron and oxygen were obtained from the e xtracted particles, and, by using the corresponding electron micrographs, h istograms of size distribution were constructed, Selected area diffraction patterns were also obtained from the particles, and analysis of these showe d the presence of a mixture of different iron oxides, including the magneti c oxides, magnetite and maghemite, The size distribution of the particles i n the abdomen is different from that in the thorax and the head, In accorda nce with the hypothesis of magnetic orientation based on the presence of ma gnetic material within the body, two regions of the ant, the head and the a bdomen, could be implicated in the detection of the geomagnetic field.