pH-responsive polymer microcapsules for targeted delivery of biomaterials to the midgut of Drosophila suzukii
Fig 2
The size range of particles ingested by D. suzukii adults.
(a) A micrograph showing polydisperse suspension of PMMA particles dyed red with Sudan III ranging in size from 0.5–200 μm. (b) Dissected midgut of D. suzukii coloured red from ingested dyed particles but the opacity of gut hindered particle size determination. (c) Solid polymer particles in the fly excrement. The micrograph shows polymer particles resuspended from the excrement allowing particle size to be measured. (d) Comparison of the particle size range in the diet with that found in the excrement (n = 700). The maximum particle size excreted was ~ 15 μm, which we have used as an approximation for the ingestion limit. Particles < 5 μm were below the detection limit.