Sterol composition and phytosterol utilization and metabolism in the milkweed bug

Abstract
Analysis of the sterols of the milkweed bug,Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas) and dietary sunflowerseeds revealed that there is little, if any, conversion of dietary C28 or C29 phytosterols to cholesterol in this phytophagous insect. The dietary sterols are apparently utilized with little alteration both during development to the adult stage and egg production, and cholesterol comprises 28‐ecdysone, makisterone A, is the predominant molting hormone in the enbryonated egg of the milkweed bug.