Radio-frequency and microwave dielectric properties of insects

Basic principles and definitions of dielectric properties of materials are presented. Data from the literature on the dielectric properties of insects are briefly reviewed and discussed in relation to insect control by selective dielectric heating. Because early measurements of the dielectric properties of insects were taken on bulk samples of insects (insect and air-space dielectric mixtures), a means for converting the dielectric properties, or permittivities, of bulk samples of particulate materials to those of the solid particles is described. The technique uses the Landau & Lifshitz, Looyenga dielectric mixture equation and information on the bulk densities of air-insect mixtures used for dielectric properties measurements along with the densities of the insects. Such converted data for the dielectric constants and loss factors of the insects are presented and collected for comparison with other measurements of insect tissues and permittivity determinations from more recent microwave measurements of these same parameters. Resulting data are presented for reference, and comparisons are presented and discussed briefly.