MELANIN IN PUPARIUM AND ADULT INTEGUMENT OF FLESHFLY, SARCOPHAGA BULLATA

The exocuticle of the fully developed cuticle of adults of Sarcophaga bullata is resistant to acid hydrolysis. The properties of a black pigment extracted from this layer are similar to those of pigment extracted from puparia of the same fly and of synthetic melanin. The pigment also resembles melanin from other sources; like them it contains indole rings. Tyrosine-14C is specifically incorporated into the acid-resistant exocuticle of the adult fly during the hardening and darkening period. It is suggested that hardening and darkening of the cuticles examined is due in part at least to the formation of 'indole'-melanin derived from tyrosine. © 1969.