Physiological Comparisons between Offspring of the Yellow Mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, Obtained from Young and from Old Parents1

Abstract

The rate of oxygen consumption of larvae and adult beetles did not differ between individuals obtained from young parents (less than 3 weeks) and those obtained from old parents (more than 6 weeks after emergence). Cytochrome oxidase activity was low in larvae and increased on emergence of the adults, the increase continuing during the first week of adult life. The high activity was maintained during the next 4 weeks in beetles from young parents, but showed a significant decrease during the second week in those from old parents; from the 6th to the 12th week the rates were approximately the same in both groups. Both acid and alkaline phosphatases were more active with than without added MgCU. Each enzyme became more active during the first 2 weeks, then decreased in activity during the remainder of adult life. Total phosphatase activity, obtained by summing the activities of the acid and alkaline enzymes, was higher during the greater part of adult life in offspring from old than in those from young parents.