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Science 28 April 1967:
Vol. 156. no. 3774, pp. 522 - 523
DOI: 10.1126/science.156.3774.522
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Articles

Calcareous Septa Formed in Snail Shells by Larvae of Snail-Killing Flies

L. V. Knutson 1, C. O. Berg 1, L. J. Edwards 1, A. D. Bratt 2, and B. A. Foote 3

1 Department of Entomology and Limnology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850
2 Departmtenit of Biology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
3 Department of Biological Scienices, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44240

Larvae of 13 species of Pherbellia and Colobaea that feed in exposed aquatic snails uitilize a product of the Malpighian tubules before they pupate to form a plate-like structure within the shell or to reinforce the anterior end of the puparium. The substance is partly calcium carbonate, and carbonic anhydrase may be involved in its production.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)