MOULTING, GROWTH, AND SURVIVAL AFTER EYESTALK REMOVAL IN UCA PUGILATOR

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Abstract
Eye-stalk removal accelerates moulting and shortens the time between successive moults. The time required for the same % of moulting was somewhat greater for 753 non-segregated than for 76 segregated animals. Most deaths after eyestalk removal resulted from mechanical difficulties in moulting so that the evidence is insufficient to decide whether the eyestalks secrete a specific life-sustaining hormone or whether viability is dependent on the moult-inhibiting function of the eyestalks. The loss of the eyestalks is probably not per se responsible for the high mortality of operated animals as these show little debility prior to ecdysis. Increased size follows eyestalk removal and some operated specimens attain gigantic size in 48 days. Following the 1st moult, loss of pigment is noticeable but no effect was seen on copulation or egg laying.

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