Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-23T09:25:42.180Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Nutritional Studies with Blattella germanica (L.) Reared Under Aseptic Conditions: II. A Chemically Defined Diet1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Howard L. House
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

Extract

In nutritional studies the proper evaluation of the results depends upon the manifestations of deficiencies. It is essential, therefore, to control all the factors which enter into the nutritional functions of the organism under study. In order to do this, the intervention of symbiotic organisms should be avoided if possible and diets of known chemical entities should be formulated with the ingredients combined in known quantities. Using the cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), the first condition can be approached, inasmuch as cockroaches can be made aseptic by freeing them from the fauna and flora of their intestinal tract and of their environment following the method described by House and Patton (1949). In the present study the second difficulty has been overcome by using diets formulated especially for this species, among the most important of which is a chemically defined food consisting of known quantities of amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, sterols and minerals.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1949

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Block, R. J., and Bolling, D.The amino acid composition of proteins and foods: analytical methods and results. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill. 1945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowers, R. E. The vitamin and lipid requirements of the cockroach, Blattela germanica, L. Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 1940.Google Scholar
Bowers, R. E., and McCay, C. M.Insect life without vitamin A. Science, 92: 291. 1940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., Reid, J. A., and Blewett, M.The sterol requirement of the larva of the beetle, Dermestes vulpinus Fabr. Biochem. J. 35: 712720. 1941.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., and Blewett, M.The vitamin B-complex requirements of several insects. Biochem. J. 37: 686692. 1943(a).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., and Blewett, M.The sterol requirements of several insects. Biochem. J. 37: 692695. 1943(b).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., and Blewett, M.The dietetics of the clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella, Hum. J. Expt. Biol., 22: 156161. 1946(a).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., and Blewett, M.Folic acid in the nutrition of certain insects. Nature, 157: 697. 1946(b).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraenkel, G., and Blewett, M.Linoleic acid, vitamin E and other fat-soluble substances in the nutrition of certain insects. (Ephestia kuehniella, E. elutella, E. cautella and Plodia interpunctella (Lep.)). J. Expt. Biol., 22: 172190. 1946(c).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frost, F. M., Hermes, W. B., and Hoskins, W. M.The nutritional requirements of the larva of the mosquito, Theobaldia incidens (Thorn.), J. Expt. Zool., 73: 461470. 1936.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gier, H. T.Growth rate in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linn.). Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 40: 303317. 1947.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Golberg, L., de Meillon, B., and Lavoipierre, M.The nutrition of the larva of Aedes aegypti L. II. Essential water soluble factors from yeast. J. Expt. Biol., 21: 9096. 1945.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hobson, R. P.On a fat-soluble growth factor required by blow-fly larva. II. Identity of the growth factor with cholesterol. Biochem. J., 29: 20232026. 1935.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
House, H. L., and Patton, R. L.Nutritional studies with Blattella germanica (L.) reared under aseptic conditions. I Equipment and technique. Can. Ent. 81, 3. 1949.Google Scholar
Loeb, J.The salts required for the development of insects, J. Biol. Chem., 23: 431434. 1915.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCay, C. M.The nutritional requirements of Blattela germanica. Physiol. Zool., 11: 89103. 1938.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michelbacher, A. E., Hoskins, W. M., and Herms, W. B.The nutrition of flesh-fly larvae, Lucilia sericata, Meig. J. Expt. Zool., 64: 109128. 1932.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paterson, D. D.Statistical technique in agricultural research. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York and London. 1939.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shultz, J., St. Lawrence, P., and Newmeyer, D.A chemically defined medium for the growth of Drosophila melanogaster. Anat. Rec., 96: 540. 1946.Google Scholar
Trager, W.Insect Nutrition. Biol. Rev. 22: 148177. 1947.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wollman, E., Giroud, A., and Ratsimamanga, R.Synthèse de la vitamine C chez un insecte orthoptère (Blatella germanica) en élevage aseptique. C.R. Soc. Biol., Paris, 124: 434435. 1937.Google Scholar
Woodruff, L. C.The normal growth rate of Blattella germanica L. J. Expt. Zool, 79: 145165. 1938.CrossRefGoogle Scholar