Abstract
Fresh insects were washed with H2O, and the pigments extracted by placing the insects in H2O in the dark. The pigments were not dialyzable, were not changed by ether, were destroyed by alcohol, and were precipitated by (NH4)2SO4. The pigments obtained from the skin were found to be chromoproteids, with the following characteristics for the different insects studied: Grasshopper (Tettigonia viridissima); color, green; protein component, albumin; prosth. group, lutein, glaucobilin; absorption bands, 671, 501. 470 m[mu] in H2O. Leaf locust (Meconema varium), green; albumin; lutein, glaucobilin; 502, 471 m[mu]. Caterpillar (Sphinx ligustri), blue-green; globulin; lutein, glaucobilin; 678, 510, 478 m[mu]; Indian dust locust (Dixippus morosus), blue-green; albumin; carotene, glaucobilin; 677, (491), (462?) m[mu]. The green pigment is formed by the blue glaucobilin and the yellow carotinoids. The name "insectoverdin" is suggested for the pigment.