Nutrient reserves in starving black carpet beetle larvae infected with the eugregarine Pyxinia frenzeli

Abstract

Starvation-mediated alterations of nutrient reserves (lipid, protein, glycogen) of larvae of the black carpet beetle, Attagenus megatoma (= Attagenus piceus), were studied. Quantitative comparisons of these materials between uninfected larvae and those infected with the eugregarine Pyxinia frenzeli were performed in an effort to characterize pathologic conditions elicited by the gregarine. Fresh weight losses were similar in both types of insects; however, infected larvae had a consistently higher moisture content. No differences were detected in the rate of utilization of stored protein, glycogen, or lipid. These data provide evidence that P. frenzeli is a commensal or mutualist, rather than a pathogen.