title: Movement of food through the gut of Catharsius molossus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
abstract: The movement of food through the anterior and posterior midgut and hindgut regions of adult Catharsius molossus has been studied under the influence of temperature, relative humidity, starvation period and availability of food. Temperature had the most profound effect on the rate of movement of food through the different regions of the gut. Starvation had direct and indirect effects on the rate of movement of food while relative humidity had no significant effect. Availability of food after a test meal increased the rate of food movement in the gut.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006813:Humidity; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D013696:Temperature