Insect Science and its Application (1997) 17, 199-204

Hassane Mahamat, Ahmed Hassanali and David Munyinyi (1997)
Haemolymph pigment composition as a chemometric indicator of phase in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria
Insect Science and its Application 17 (2), 199-204
Abstract: The blue biliverdin pigment in the haemolymph of Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae) was shown to be associated with all the stages and ages of the solitary-reared (solitarious) insects, irrespective of their origin or diet. The pigment was absent or present in very small quantities in the crowd-reared (gregarious) insects. The ratio of absorbance at 460 nm and 680 nm, the former representing the lambda[max] for the carotenoid pigment and the latter for the biliverdin, provides a clearcut index for partitioning the phases. The mean value of the index for the gregarious group fell in the range 3.69 to 4.78. That of the solitarious group ranged from 0.64 to 1.67. The absorbance ratio at 460/680 nm appears to represent a simple and convenient means of differentiating the two phases of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria.

La biliverdine un pigment bleu de l'haemolymphe du Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae) a ete associee avec les differents stades de developpement et l'age des insectes eleves en solitaires, independament de leur origine et alimentation. Le pigment etait absent ou en faible quantite chez les insectes eleves en groupe (gregaires). Le rapport d'absorbance a 460 nm et 680 nm representant lambda[max] pour les carotinoides et la biliverdine fournit un index de separation des phases. La valeur moyenne de l'index pour le groupe gregaire se trouve entre 3,69 et 4,78. Cette du groupe solitaire etait entre 0,64 et 1,67. Le rapport de l'absorbance a 460/680 nm representa une methode simple et utile pour differentier entre les deux phases du criquet pelerin Schistocerca gregaria.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Ahmed Hassanali

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Schistocerca gregaria