Abstract
The protein components of hardened and unhardened insect cuticles have been analysed for their amino acid composition. These analyses show that the puparia of muscoid flies and the oötheca of the cockroach, which have been extensively studied as examples of sclerotization, differ markedly from insects in which hardening of the cuticle occurs after an ecdysis. β-Alanine and cyst(e)ine take part in the hardening of cuticles. Melanins occur in darkly coloured cuticles and the melanins may be either of the indole type or a mixture of indole and catechol types. During the formation of the puparium in Lucilia cuprina changes take place in the composition of the larval cuticle which are similar to those which occur during insect ecdysis. Approximately 20 per cent of both the protein and chitin of the larval cuticle were either absorbed during puparium formation and pupation or were converted to moulting membranes, or both. About the same amount of tanning material was added to the cuticle.
Published Version
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