AMINO ACIDS IN HAEMOLYMPH OF TOBACCO BUDWORM, HELIOTHIS VIRESCENS FAB AS AFFECTED BY ITS HABITUAL PARASITE, CARDIOCHILES NIGRICEPS VIERECK

1. 1. Free and hydrolyzed amino acids in the haemolymph of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fab.) and its habitual parasite, Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck were identified and quantitated to show similarities and differences existing within the host-parasite association. 2. 2. Thirty-one ninhydrin positive compounds were found in Heliothis larva, twenty-three of which were positively identified as free amino acids or derivatives thereof. Hydrolysis revealed that eight other ninhydrin positive compounds were possibly peptides. 3. 3. In general, no qualitative differences of amino acids occurred due to the host-parasite association. 4. 4. Quantitative differences were present in both the amounts of individual amino acids and total amino acids between non-parasitized and parasitized Heliothis larvae and the parasite. 5. 5. The amounts of certain free amino acids decreased in the parasitized host with a corresponding increase of these amino acids in the parasite, indicating absorption and utilization of these amino acids by the parasite. Other amino acids did not exhibit corresponding increase in the parasite indicating utilization of these amino acids for energy as indicated by the increase in ammonia. © 1969.