Importance de la lysine et du tryptophane dans la nutrition deTenebrio molitor L.

Summary

Experiments were undertaken in order to ascertain whether an insect,Tenebrio molitor, requires lysine and tryptophane for growing. Young larvæ were fed, from the day of hatching, on a diet containing a purified protein as sole source for amino acids and all the other nutrients required by this species.

It was found that lysine and tryptophane are both essential for the growing ofTenebrio. The various protteins tested can be listed from point of view of their nutritive value according to their content of both amino acids. Further evidence for this relationship is presented by the fact that zein, a protein deficient in both lysine and tryptophane, is incapable to sustain growth unless it is supplemented with both amino acids. On the other hand, gliadin which is devoid of lysine but contains small amounts of tryptophane can be improved when lysine only is added.