Fuels for energy metabolism in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 25; no. 12; pp. 951 - 955
• Main Authors: Weeda, E., de Kort, C.A.D., Th Beenakkers, A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1979
• Subjects: Laboratorium voor Entomologie; Laboratory of Entomology; starvation; proline; carbohydrates; flight; Colorado beetle
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1910(79)90108-2

During flight, the proline concentration in the flight muscles of Leptinotarsa decemlineata decreases sharply while that of alanine shows a proportional increase. In view of the known dynamics of proline turn over the observed decrease would indicate that proline plays the major role as a mobilizable energy source for flight. To a minor extent carbohydrates such as glycogen and glucose support energy metabolism during flight in the Colorado potato beetle. During a recovery period after flight the proline concentration in the fat body increases sharply within minutes, a feature which would indicate that fat body could synthesize proline maybe at the expense of alanine. Comparison of starvation and flight metabolism reveals that the metabolic changes in the two situations are different.