Living With Uric Acid

Wandering stage of the tobacco hornworm caterpillar

In the larva stage of the tobacco hornworm, nitrogen waste is removed from the hemolymph and excreted by the digestive system. However, waste processing must drastically change during metamorphosis.

A fully developed tobacco hornworm will drop from a plant to the ground and begin a wandering phase prior to pupation. At the beginning of the wandering phase, a larva will empty its gut contents and release substances inside the gut that kill…

Source: Living With Insects Blog