Abstract
Esterase activity has been studied for the first time during different phases of cellular activity i.e. growth, prefunctional, functional and post functional (degenerating) ones in the spinning gland cells of the Indian moth D. obliqua. Esterase activity is in keeping with the needs of energy of the growing spinning gland cells which is associated with increased metabolism of the cell rather than the secretion of silk. The enzyme also seems to play a significant role in the termination of larval period.
