The anatomy and physiology of the morabine grasshoppers IV. proteins and pigments in solution

Abstract

The haemolymph of morabine grasshoppers (Orthoptera : Eumastacidae) contains a green and a yellow pigment, each attached to one or more proteins. The distribution of proteins has been investigated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels and on cellulose acetate strips. The distribution of proteins in the blood of the green phenotypes of some groups of species differs markedly from that in the non-green (grey, brown, and yellow) phenotypes; the green pigment is consistently attached to one group of proteins in the green phenotypes of one group of species whereas it is attached to another group of proteins in non-green phenotypes of the same species group. In some morphs there are two bands of pigment. The yellow pigment is attached to a late-running group of proteins irrespective of the nature of the phenotype. There are marked differences of protein distribution, and of the attachment of the pigments to proteins in morabines, as compared with a pyrgomorphid and two acridid grasshoppers. Altogether, 36 bands have been recognized in the haemolymph of morabines, and several of these bands show esterase activity. At least 25 bands are secreted by the largest of the male accessory glands, but none seem to persist when the contents of the gland are ejaculated into the female spermatheca. The seminal vesicles of the male do not secrete appreciable amounts of protein.