Immediately after fertilization of the ovum, vigorous cell proliferation commences at the expense of the yolk reserves. The
high titre of glycogen, observed both during the initial as well as the final stages of embryogenesis, suggests glycogen to
be the main energy reserve which in combination with protein also participates in the chitinization of the newly hatched out
larva. The close resemblance in the variation pattern of free sugar content to that of active phosphorylase activity is noteworthy.
The initial total protein concentration inPhilosamia egg (165µg/egg) although declines during early embryonic development, rises again to 149µg/egg on day 6 on the eve of emergence of the first instar larva depicting intensive tissue transformation during the tail
end of embryogenesis.
Communicated by Prof. J. V. Bhat,f.a.sc.