Abstract
I HAVE recently had occasion to require a standard or repeatable degree of abrasion of the cuticle of an insect, the larva of Rhodnius 1. It was observed that in regions where excreta containing crystals of uric acid had dried on the surface, the cuticle appeared to be more permeable, suggesting that the drying of suspensions containing solid particles might produce abrasion. This was tested by applying suitable suspensions in distilled water, allowing them to dry in air, removing the particles in a stream of water and then testing for abrasion by exposure to ammoniacal silver hydroxide2.
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References
Wigglesworth, V. B., J. Insect Physiol., 2 (in the press).
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Holdgate, M. W., “The Wetting and Water-proofing Properties of Some Insect Cuticles”, thesis, University of Cambridge (1955).
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WIGGLESWORTH, V. Abrasion of the Insect Cuticle by Aqueous Suspensions of Small Particles. Nature 181, 779–780 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/181779b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/181779b0
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