RELATIONSHIP OF FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF HELIOTHIS ZEA LARVAE TO THAT OF ITS DIET

The fatty acid composition of Heliothis zea larvae largely reflects that of the dietary source. Larvae reared on broad-beans contain linolenate (a nutrient requirement for normal wing development) as the major fatty acid component, whereas larvae reared on a wheat-germ synthetic diet contain very little of this acid. Larvae do not accumulate palmitoleic acid from the broadbean leaves, but synthesize this compound when reared on the wheat-germ diet. Storage of wheat germ at room temperature over a 5 month period results in a large loss of lipids and a gross change in the fatty acid composition. © 1968.