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Feeding an insect through its respiration: Assimilation of alcohol vapors byDrosophila melanogaster adults

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Summary

Ethanol given to otherwise starvedDrosophila adults can increase their survival from 2.5 to 8 days. Similar results were obtained when only alcohol vapor was accessible to the flies, demonstrating the possibility of significant feeding through their respiration. This physiological capacity could be useful in wild conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Entomologie expérimentale et de Génétique (associé au C. N. R. S.), Université Claude Bernard, 43, bd du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69621, Villeurbanne, France

    J. Van Herrewege & J. R. David

Authors
  1. J. Van Herrewege
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  2. J. R. David
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We thank R. Grantham for help with the manuscript.

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Van Herrewege, J., David, J.R. Feeding an insect through its respiration: Assimilation of alcohol vapors byDrosophila melanogaster adults. Experientia 34, 163–164 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01944652

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01944652

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