Figure 2.
The size of the gut increases in a proportional manner to the total body size: larvae of the w1118 (blue circles: (A,C)) and Champetières (red circles: (B,D)), fly lines of different sizes and instars (L1, L2, and L3) were simultaneously selected and fed with standard solutions of FITC-dextran particles. Groups of 5 similarly sized larvae were weighed, surface cleaned, and macerated, to measure the ingested FITC content and estimate the volume of the gut. The correlation between average weight and average gut volume per group of 5 larvae was estimated using a Pearson correlation test (A,B), indicating a positive strong correlation between total body and gut size as the larvae grow. Furthermore, the gut-to-body ratio was calculated, and a Pearson test was used to evaluate its correlation to body size (C,D), indicating no correlation for Champetières, and a weak negative correlation for w1118 larvae.