MRI of oriental hornet head

The head of the Oriental hornet in situ, detached from a live sample was imaged using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This non-invasive method enabled us to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the hornet's brain and intracerebral organs, as based on cubic voxels of 23 μm³. From these images, we could identify various cephalic structures in both supra-esophageal and sub-esophageal locations. In the former location, we identified and visualized the ocelli, ommatidia, mushroom body, lobula, medulla and the compound eyes in the protocerebrum, as well as the olfactory lobe and bases of the antenna in the deutocerebrum, while in the sub-esophageal region we visualized organs such as the mouthparts, the esophagus, the gnathal pouch and the salivary ducts that empty into the region. Additionally, we identified various muscles, the aorta, cuticular thickenings lending support to the interior of the head and also the cuticular skeleton providing support on the outside. All the mentioned structures and organs were visualized in their relative, normal proportions, without touching or dislocating them.