Nutritional studies on the group effect in Acheta domesticus (L.)

Abstract

When maintained continuously on an artificial diet, larvae of Acheta domesticus (L.) showed the group effect in the second, third and fourth generations, thereby eliminating carry-over of nutrients in the egg stage as an explanation for the previously demonstrated group effect in the first generation. Linolenic acid was not detectable in body lipid of second-, third- and fourth-generation adults, indicating that linolenic acid is not synthesized by this insect and is not responsible for the group effect. The group effect was found in larvae reared on a diet (1) with vitamin K 1 without vitamin E, (2) with vitamin E but without vitamin K 1, and (3) without both vitamin E and K 1. These results show that neither vitamin E nor vitamin K 1 is directly involved in the group effect.