Davis G R, Sosulski F W
Arch Int Physiol Biochim. 1976 Apr;84(2):235-46. doi: 10.3109/13813457609073974.
Larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., Gembloux strain, race F, were reared on diets of 17 cultivars of wheat and 29 cultivars of barley, prepared for determination of digestible energy with mice, for 4 weeks at 27 +/- 0.25 degrees C and 65 +/- 5% relative humidity. Values for percentage crude protein of tissues of larvae fed wheat cultivars were significantly and positively correlated with values for digestible energy as determined with mice. These values were not correlated for larvae fed barley cultivars; however, values for per cent dry matter content of larvae were significantly and positively correlated with values for digestible energy determined with mice. This apparent discrepancy is explained on the basis of the chemical constitution of barley and the availability of amino acids of barley to the larvae. Use of larvae of Tenebrio molitor to indicate the digestible energy of cereal grains is feasible, provided that the proper parameter is chosen. Nevertheless, use of this biological method seems more suitable for evaluation of protein quality and of amino acid availability than for a measure of digestible energy of feeds.
黄粉虫（黄粉虫属，大谷盗种，根特菌株，F族）幼虫以17个小麦品种和29个大麦品种为食，这些饲料是为用小鼠测定可消化能量而准备的，在27±0.25℃和65±5%相对湿度条件下饲养4周。以小麦品种为食的幼虫组织粗蛋白百分比值与用小鼠测定的可消化能量值呈显著正相关。以大麦品种为食的幼虫，这些值无相关性；然而，幼虫干物质含量百分比值与用小鼠测定的可消化能量值呈显著正相关。这种明显的差异是基于大麦的化学组成以及大麦氨基酸对幼虫的可利用性来解释的。只要选择合适的参数，利用黄粉虫幼虫来指示谷物的可消化能量是可行的。然而，使用这种生物学方法似乎更适合评估蛋白质质量和氨基酸可利用性，而不是用于衡量饲料的可消化能量。
