Pepsin and pancreatin can digest all but about 8.1-8.7% of dried powdered meal-worm (Tenebrio molitor). This result is comparable to the residue left after treatment with 1% aqueous KOH at 100[degree] for 24 hrs. These methods give fairly consistent results on various insects (Periplaneta, Culex, Lucilia, Rhodnius, Cimex), but the per cent of skeleton varied with the insects. The KOH method is simpler and quicker and dissolves hematin in case blood-sucking insects are studied.