The Metabolism of Starved Nymphs of the Grasshopper, Chortophaga viridifasciata De Geer

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Abstract
Detns. were made on the glucose, glycogen, fat, and N content of normal grasshopper nymphs and of others starved for 1 week or until death at 25[degree]C over a saturated soln. of ZnSO4 (relative humidity 82%). At this humidity, although water is lost at the same rate as body wt., most of the wt. loss was the result of a loss of water. Carbohydrate is the main source of energy during the initial phases of starvation, 97% of the glycogen being used during the first week and no additional amt. during the remainder of the survival period. Most of the glucose was also used early in starvation, 67.8% being oxidized during the first week and 76.2% during complete starvation. Fat appears to be the chief reserve substance to be oxidized after the glycogen supply has been exhausted. Nymphs lost 25% of their fat during the first week and 68.6% during complete starvation. Nitrogen utilization occurred at a slow constant rate, the amt. lost during inanition being 11% of the initial N. However, because of the rapid loss of body wt., the % N increased from 2.82 in normal, to 4.85 in completely starved nymphs.
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