Time Dependence of Light-Independent Biochemical Changes in the Boll Weevil, Anthonomous grandis , Caused by Dietary Rose Bengal 1

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Abstract
Diet containing rose bengal, when fed to newly-emerged adult boll weevils in the absence of light, causes serious biochemical changes in the insect. Body weight, total protein, and certain enzyme levels remain constant in the treated weevils as opposed to increases seen in normal weevils. Total lipids decrease in treated weevils relative to the constant values observed in controls. These data, along with fluctuations in the amino acid pool sizes of treated weevils, suggest that the changes are due to an energy stress in the insect, which can become lethal, acting after the dye is absorbed into the tissues of the insect from the gut.