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Journal of Experimental Biology 48,291-304 (1968)
Published by Company of Biologists 1968

The Influence of Ephestia Kuehniella on the Development of its Parasite Nemeritis Canescens

SARAH A. CORBET ¹

¹ Westfield College, London

1. The first larval instar of Nemeritis lasts longer in young caterpillars of Ephestia than it does in older caterpillars. First-instar Nemeritis larvae in young hosts feed and grow very slowly, but they remain capable of fast growth if transferred to older host caterpillars.

2. Measurements of the protein concentration, the amino acid concentration and the freezing-point depression show rapid changes in the composition of the haemolymph of Ephestia caterpillars at that stage of larval development at which they first become capable of supporting the fast development of first-instar larvae of Nemeritis.

3. It is suggested that the rate of development of Nemeritis larvae depends on their rate of feeding, and that their rate of feeding is determined by a behavioural response to the composition of their food, the host's haemolymph; they feed slowly in young host caterpillars because the concentration of solutes (notably amino acids) in their food is so high.

4. A similar situation may hold when the development of insect parasites is delayed in diapausing hosts.