ABSTRACT A mutant strain of the silkworm Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) has been proposed as a model for Parkinson’s disease. The larvae of homozygous lemon lethal (leml) mutants, deficient in sepiapterin reductase, are reported to show abnormal behaviors such as head shaking and feeding inability after the first ecdysis. It was observed that although the leml/leml larvae had an appetite, they could not bite off pieces of mulberry leaves because of their abnormally soft mandibles. Further observations of leml/leml larvae revealed normal movement. Taken together, these data indicate that the leml strain is not suitable for use as a Parkinson’s disease model.
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