Persistence of Radio-Activity in Grasshoppers (Acrididae) Tagged with Phosphorus-32

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
With the increased availability of radioisotopes and their application to the study of insect behaviour and dispersal, the possibility of using a radio-active tag on grasshoppers was investigated. Preliminary studies on the distribution of radio-active phosphorus (P32) in Melanoplus mexicanus mexicanus (Sauss.) and Camnula pellucida (Scudd.) were carried out by Murray (1949) and Fuller (1950). The P32, in the form of phosphate ion, was placed on food plants in drop form, or the leaves were dipped in an aqueous solution containing the phosphate ion. When this was fed to the grasshoppers over 50 per cent of the activity was excreted, but the amount retained was distributed throughout the body. The highest activities were recorded for the thorax and the metathoracic legs. The radio-activity apparently had no ill effects on the grasshoppers. However, more specific data were required to determine how well the applied activity is taken up and how long it is retained.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: