CUTICULAR PIGMENTS OF TOBACCO HORNWORM (MANDUCA SEXTA) LARVAE - EFFECTS OF DIET AND GENETIC DIFFERENCES

Blue and yellow components of insectoverdin pigments from larvae of Manduca sexta were investigated. Variations in extraction techniques are discussed. Relative concentrations of the blue component, identified as mesobiliverdin, in plant-reared larvae (green), diet-reared larvae (blue), and a genetic variant (white) were examined. The green colour form contains 1·4 to 1·8 times more mesobiliverdin than the blue form, and the blue form contains 1·6 to 2·0 times more mesobiliverdin than the white form. Carotenoid protein pigments are absent from diet-reared larvae. © 1969.