Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Calicut-673 635, Kerala (India).
The carbohydrate level was estimated in the midgut of sixth instar larvae, pupae and adults of Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval. The lowest level was recorded at 24 hr (0.74 ± 0.09 μg/mg tissue) of larval development and the highest on the first day of the pupal development (3.09 ± 0.14 μg/mg tissue). It decreased to half during the adult stage (1.54 ± 0.21 μg/mg tissue). It is suggested that the midgut carbohydrate, a reserve in the first day pupa may act as a source for structural protein and as a source of glucose for chitin synthesis in pharate adults.
