Figure 1.

Gut contents of P. cochleariae larvae degrade several plant cell wall polysaccharides. Gut contents (GC) prepared from third-instar P. cochleariae larvae were tested for activity against carboxymethylcellulose, pectin from citrus peels, beechwood xylan and galactomannan by agarose plate diffusion assays. Five and 10 μl GC were deposited for each substrate as well as buffer only as control. After incubation for 1 h at 30°C, enzymatic activities (clearing zones on a dark background) were revealed by staining either with Congo Red or with Ruthenium red (pectin).