title: The hemolymph of caterpillars Spodoptera littoralis: physico-chemical properties and ionic composition compared to culture media.
abstract: In this paper, we determined some physico-chemical properties like osmotic pressure, pH and electrical conductivity of the hemolymph from caterpillars of Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) during the last larval instar. It was of interest that we observed an increase in osmotic pressure with the increase in age in the last instar that may concur with the start of histolysis at metamorphosis. These physicochemical properties were then compared to those of Grace's and modified Grace's tissue culture medium. In addition, concentrations of the cations Na, K, Ca and Mg, and the anions Cl, NO3, PO4 and SO4 were determined in the insect hemolymph of S. littoralis. The cations K and Mg reached high values with a percent of about 52% of the total amount of cations. The concentration of sodium was low. The total sum of the anions consisted about 56 meq/1, and this allows to neutralise about 45 % of the total cations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007814:Larva; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D003470:Culture Media