Studies on the biochemistry of insects. VII. Oligoelements in the metamorphosis of Aglaope infausta

Abstract

The bioelements existing in the three phases of the metamor­ phosis of Aglaope infausta and their cocoons, are being studied here by means of a spectrograph, model R 24, the excitation by the are of continuous current at 110-120 V. and 4-5 A. We could observe that the porcentage of ashes decreases progressively from larva to the imago and is quite high in the cocoon.

Of the bioelements studied, those predominating in all phases of metamorphosis are Ca, Mg, K and Si, then comes Al, except in the larva which contains more Ba, next comes Fe except in the larva where the quantities of Fe are a little lower, The next element in importance is Cu which predominales in the chrysalis, is low in the butterfly and still lower in the larva. Theamount of Zn is high in chrysalis, lower in imago and non existing in larvae and cocoons. In the latter we did not find. Ni, Sn, Mn either, which, on the other hand, are present in the phases of metamorphosis except in chrysalis, which does not contain Mn. On the remaining oligoelements, Pb predominales in imagos, Sr and Sn in larvae; while Ti and B do not vary in the three phases of the metamorphosis.