The Malpighian tubules and cryptonephric complex in lepidopteran larvae

Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths)are an ecologically and agriculturally important group of holometabolous insects. Their larvae and adults exhibit trophic partitioning, which is reflected by the various modifications of their digestive and excretory systems. Adults are capable of flight and feed mostly on the nectar of plants, acting as pollinators. Larvae are voracious leaf eaters whose extremely alkaline midgut (pH ≈ 11)is an adaptation …