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Showing papers on "Sterculia foetida published in 1973"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It appears that the action of S. foetida oil on the fatty acid composition of the blowfly is responsible for the effects on its life cycle.
Abstract: Purified oil of the Java Olive Bush, Sterculia foetida L. (Malvales: Sterculiaceae), fed to developing larvae resulted in deleterious effects on the life cycle of Lucilia sericata (Meigen). There was an inverse correlation between the concentration of oil fed to the larvae and the resulting pupal weight. Pupae obtained from oil-fed larvae were misshapen, and few adults emerged from pupae of larvae fed 0.5–3;1% oil. In addition, no eggs were obtained from these adults. Feeding S. foetida oil caused alterations in the fatty acid composition of the blowfly that resulted in changes in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in both the neutral lipids and phospholipids. Specifically the relative levels of the saturates — myristic, palmitic and stearic acids—increased, and their corresponding monounsaturates—myristoleic, palmitoleic and oleic acids—decreased, thereby altering the physical consistency of the fatty acid mixture. The same correlation existed between the level of oil fed and the effects both on life cycle and fatty acid composition; therefore it appears that the action of S. foetida oil on the fatty acid composition of the blowfly is responsible for the effects on its life cycle. In addition, it is likely that the cyclopropenoid group of sterculic acid is the active component, since supplements of oleic acid did not adversely affect L. sericata.

7 citations