Catalase test on insects

Abstract

Five species of insects (Blattella germanica, Periplaneta fuliginosa, P. americana, Musca domestica and Megaselia spiracularis) were observed on the catalase deactivation with heating temperature and time passage. Additional tests were carried out on the same insects for 30 days of immersion in four kinds of liquids (10% sugar solution, 15% ethanol, soy sauce and vegetable oil). The experiment was carried out by a simple method of dropping 3% hydrogen peroxide on the crushed body. On the relation between heating and the catalase activity, the five species of insects retained the activity after heating at 65℃ for 60 minutes. Catalase activity was easily lost by heating at 80℃ in B. germanica, 90℃ in P. fuliginosa, and 90℃ in M. domestica. On the other hand, the activity in P. americana and M. spiraculartis was not lost at 90℃. These results show that the activity is different by insect species. On the immersion, all the five species of insects retained the catalase activity for long period (30 days) in 10% sugar solution, 15% ethanol, soy sauce and vegetable oil.