Conversion of [14C] β-carotene to its 2-hydroxy and 3-hydroxy metabolites by two moth species

(1) [14C] β-carotene was fed to last instar larvae Notodontid moth species, Cerura vinula L. and Phalera bucephala L. (2) Label was specifically incorporated to 3.8% into β, β-caroten-2-ol by C.vinula and to 65% into β, β-caroten-3-ol (cryptoxanthin) by Ph.bucephala. This is the first direct demonstration of carotenoid metabolism in insects. (3) In Ph.bucephala pupae no sexual difference in the relative amounts of cryptoxanthin could be stated. (4) The capability to transform dietary carotenoids in Lepidoptera is discussed. (author)