Özet:

The influence of cadmium on protein, lipid and carbohydrate levels of lesser wax moth, Achroia grisella Fabricius, 1794 (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) larvae was examined under laboratory conditions. Larvae were reared on an artificial diet medium contaminated with three different concentrations of cadmium (50, 100 and 200 mg kg-1 diet). In the control group the insects fed on cadmium-free diet containing honeycomb (200 g), bran (860 g), glycerol (300 ml), honey (150 ml) and distilled water (150 ml). All of the insects were kept at 25 ± 2 °C temperature, 60 ± 5 % relative humidity and 16L:8D photoperiod conditions. Last instar A. grisella larvae were weighed, placed individually into microcentrifuge tubes and stored at –20 °C for the biochemical analysis. The results of this study showed that cadmium contamination caused a significant reduction in the protein level of the larvae at 50 and 200 mg kg-1 concentrations. Carbohydrate level reduced significantly at only 50 mg kg-1 cadmium concentration compared with control. Lipid level of the cadmium-treated larvae considerably reduced at 100 mg kg-1 concentration, while it remained more or less unaffected at 50 and 200 mg kg-1 cadmium concentrations.