CARBOHYDRATE, LIPID AND PROTEIN PROFILE IN CATOPSILIA PYRANTHE TREATED WITH VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS OF SUGARS AND NECTARS

Abstract

In order of Lepidoptera, butterflies are the most aesthetic insects which adds beauty to our ecosystem as well as they are the pollinators. Anthropogenic activities are hindering their survival and thus it is the time to conserve them to maintain biodiversity. Nectars are the rewards for such pollinators and their good variety can be able to maintain their coexistence. Sugar concentration in nectars varies and directly affects its mortality, fecundity and physiological, behavioral changes. The present study focuses on the physiological changes of butterflies after treating them with four different concentrations of sucrose (10 %, 20 %, 30 % and 40 %) and four different nectars on which (Catopsilia pyranthe) mottled emigrants generally feed on the field. Also the wild butterflies were collected and were compared with the control, sucrose concentrations and four varieties of nectar diets. Sucrose is selected for the treatment as it is available in nectar at higher amounts. The best results of total carbohydrates in males (0.581 ± 0.059 mg/ml) as well as females (0.509 ± 0.137 mg/ml) were recorded in Vinca rosea treated individuals, glycogen in 40 % sucrose treatments in both male (0.580 ± 0.075 mg/ml) and female (0.614 ± 0.0304 mg/ml), total lipids again in 40 % sucrose treatments in both male (0.850 ± 0.431 mg/ml) and female (0.726 ± 0.1106 mg/ml) and total proteins in wild (1.985 ± 1.782 mg/ml) in male and in 40 % sucrose (1.681 ± 0.111 mg/ml) in female individuals. In SDS PAGE, the highest number of bands of different molecular weights observed in males are Lantana camara, Vinca rosea, Stachytarpheta cayennensis treated and Wild butterflies while in female individuals, it is in Vinca rosea treated and Wild butterflies. The study also presents the 3D structures with the help of peptide search by Uniprot and homology modeling with the help of Swissprot. It is an attempt to represent the variety of physiological changes that occur due to the different concentration of sugars so it can help for further maintenance of nectar plants and ultimately to maintain our ecosystem by conserving pollinators.