OXYGEN UPTAKE OF SINGLE INSECTS DETERMINED WITH A POLAROGRAPHIC OXYGEN ELECTRODE

When the oxygen uptake of live insects was determined by using a polarographic electrode and a buckout circuit was placed in series with commercially available equipment, small changes in oxygen tension could be detected at a sensitivity 100-fold greater than that provided by the unmodified instruments. The test was made by placing the insect in a closed chamber so designed that the oxygen utilization of insects weighing between 60 and 500 mg could be measured. The rates of respiration of four species of insects determined by this method were in good agreement with those obtained by other investigators with manometric techniques. © 1968.