Utilization of amino acids during development of the African migratory locust embryo.

The metabolic fate of amino acids introduced into the locust egg by the addition of amino acids after oviposition is compared to that of amino acids derived from the maternal haemocoel. It was found that amino acids from the two sources did not always follow the same pattern of utilization. Topical application resulted in some of the applied amino acids being converted into other amino acids and ammonia. When the labelled amino acid was administered to the egg via the maternal haemocoel, radioactivity was restricted to the amino acid orginally provided.