Antioxidant defence status in the nalia ecorace of wild tasar silkmoth, Antheraea paphia L.

The concentration of antioxidant in the haemolymph and fat body tissue was studied in the Vth instar larva and diapausing pupa of Nalia ecorace of wild tasar silkmoth, Antheraea paphia L. The concentration of protein, ascorbic acid, glutathione and endogenous level of lipid peroxidation (LPX) contents were analysed. Reduction in the level of lipid peroxidation towards pupal stage in both the haemolymph and fat body tissue showed a protective mechanism to limit the tissue oxidation. The results suggest that the antioxidant status is comparatively more in the larval stage in comparison to diapausing pupa.