Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Evidence for two mechanisms of sclerotisation in insect cuticle

Nature volume 251, pages 507–508 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

IN many insects the cuticle changes drastically in properties soon after a moult. When the insect emerges from the old cuticle the new one is soft, pale, and a major part of the proteins can easily be extracted. Gradually the proteins become insoluble, the cuticle becomes harder, and in many cases it also becomes darker. The colour may range from a very light amber to dark brown or even black. It has been discussed repeatedly whether hardening and darkening are two independent processes or whether they are two results of the same chemical reaction, but no definitive conclusions have been reached1–6.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pryor, M. G. M., Proc. R. Soc., B, 128, 393–407 (1940).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Pryor, M. G. M., Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond., A, 23, 96–97 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cottrell, C. B., Adv. Insect Physiol., 2, 175–218 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Richards, A. G., Zool. Jb. Anat., 84, 25–62 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hackman, R. H., in Chemical Zoology, (edit. by Florkin, M. and Scheer, B. T.), 6, 1–62 (Academic Press, London, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fuzeau-Braesch, S., A. Rev. Biochem., 17, 403–424 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Andersen, S. O., and Barrett, F. M., J. Insect Physiol., 17, 69–83 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Andersen, S. O., J. Insect Physiol., 18, 527–540 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Andersen, S. O., Insect Biochem., 1, 157–170 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoophysiological Laboratory C, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    S. O. ANDERSEN

Authors
  1. S. O. ANDERSEN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ANDERSEN, S. Evidence for two mechanisms of sclerotisation in insect cuticle. Nature 251, 507–508 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/251507a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/251507a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing