AMINO ACID REQUIREMENTS OF ORYZAEPHILUS SURINAMENSIS (L.) (COLEOPTERA: SILVANIDAE) FOR PUPATION

Abstract

A racemic mixture of alanine in the diet was deleterious to Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) in the concentration used. Cystine, arginine, and proline were also harmful and the adverse effect of alanine may have been partially reduced by their removal from the diet. Data obtained with a chemically defined diet lacking alanine indicate that removal of proline or lysine had no effect. Removal of arginine, tryptophan, cystine, glycine, isoleucine, histidine, or methionine, one at a time, resulted in a lower percentage survival or a longer larval period, or both.