Manifestations of a Vitamin BT (Carnitine) Deficiency in the Larvae of the Meal Worm, Tenebrio molitor L.

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Abstract
The larvae of T. molitor, when grown on a synthetic diet consisting of casein, glucose, cholesterol, a salt mixture and all the known vit. of the B complex, die at the age of 4-6 weeks. They survive and grow at an almost normal rate upon the addition of 0.35 ug. carnitine (vit. BT) /g. of the diet. The majority of BT deficient larvae die immediately after a molt. Larvae which were raised for 3-4 weeks on a carnitine deficient diet, than placed on whole meal flour for 7-9 days, and returned to the deficient diet, grow to a weight of 40-80 mg. and then become deficient. In the presence of 0.35 [mu]g. carnitine/g. most larvae survive and pupate, but the adults are malformed and not viable. A minimum of 1.5 [mu]g./g. is required for well formed adults. Deficient larvae ultimately cease to grow because they cease to feed, and not because they fail to utilize the food. During a prolonged period of starvation the fat content of normal larvae decreases from 43 to 12%, and the water content rises from 58.5 to 71%. In an advanced state of carnitine deficiency, the fat content has decreased to 24% and the water content to 42%. It is concluded that disorders affecting the cuticle may be the immediate cause of death from a carnitine deficiency.