Feeding and oviposition behavior of tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta, in relation to Myo-inositol

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the role that myo-inositol plays in feeding and oviposition by the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The results show that; (1) of all of the compounds tested only myo-inositol and epi-inositol consistently elicited a rapid, phasic-tonic firing response from taste receptors, (2) inositol is a feeding stimulant for both fifth and third stage M. sexta larvae, (3) M. sexta larvae do not need dietary inositol for normal growth and development, but females need dietary inositol as larvae for egg production as adults, (4) inositol is also a utilizable carbohydrate for M. sexta larvae and considering its relative abundance in Solanaceous plants, it may serve as an important carbohydrate source, (5) inositol does not appear to be important in oviposition, (6) inositol is correlated to protein levels in young tomato and tobacco plants.