Calorimetric measurements of energy contents and heat production rates during development of the wax moth Galleria mellonella

Changes of the energy content of different developmental stages in the wax moth Galleria mellonella were investigated by means of combustion calorimet ry. The energy content (Q) is highest in L-7-larvae (2.94 kJ per individual ), the last stage in Galleria ontogenesis which takes up food, and the spec ific energy content (q) is highest in adults (37.5 +/- 2.4 kJ g(-1)) with f at as energy reserve. Galleria takes up no further food after pupation and in adult life. The energy reserve for metamorphosis and adult life can be c alculated to 1.65 kJ per moth. Heat production rates of wax moths from L-7-instars until death of the adul t were recorded continuously by means of longtime calorimetric experiments. Different develomental phases could be clearly distinguished in the calori metric curves because larval instars, prepupae, pupal instars and adults ea ch showed a specific pattern of heat production. Developmental events such as moultings could be observed with own characteristic patterns of heat pro duction rates. Mean specific heat production rates ranged from 13.7 +/- 3.3 mW g(-1) during cocooning of the L-7-instar, to 5.1 +/- 1.3 mW g(-1) (n = 6) in prepupae. Adults showed a circadian pattern of heat production with r esting metabolic rates of 5.6 +/- 2.3 and 10.4 +/- 2.1 mW g(-1) (n = 6) dur ing periods of activity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .