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How female caterpillars accumulate their nutrient reserves
A Telang1, V Booton, R F. Chapman
1Interdisciplinary Program in Insect Science, University of Arizona, 410 Forbes building, 85721, Tucson, AZ, USA
Journal of Insect Physiology
|July 27, 2001
Summary
Female Heliothis virescens larvae accumulate more protein and carbohydrates than males by regulating intake and processing. This is crucial for meeting nutritional needs, especially with protein-rich diets.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Insect Physiology
- Nutritional Ecology
Background:
- Female insects, particularly Lepidoptera, often exhibit greater body mass than males.
- Understanding nutritional strategies in insect larvae is key to comprehending their growth and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms, including consumption and post-ingestive processing, by which female Heliothis virescens larvae meet protein and carbohydrate requirements.
- To compare the feeding behavior and nutrient accumulation between male and female Heliothis virescens larvae.
Main Methods:
- Larvae were provided with diets offering varying protein and carbohydrate ratios, with and without choice.
- Consumption, selective feeding, and nutrient accumulation (protein and carbohydrate) were measured throughout the larval instar.
Main Results:
- Females consumed more carbohydrates than males only on carbohydrate-biased diets.
- Overall, females accumulated significantly more protein and carbohydrates than males across the instar.
- When diets were protein-rich, females ate more and accumulated more protein; no sex differences were observed on high-carbohydrate diets.
Conclusions:
- Female Heliothis virescens larvae actively regulate both food intake and post-ingestive processing to maximize protein accumulation, especially from protein-rich food sources.
- This regulatory ability is vital for supporting their larger body size and reproductive potential.
- The findings highlight the importance of protein availability in larval development and suggest that anthers, a natural food source, are critical for meeting these needs.