2.3. Preparation of Larval Protein Extracts

P. xylostella larvae were extracted in toto. Larvae of the other species (late instar) were dissected into front part (“head”), gut tissue, gut content, and remaining parts (“integument”) in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, on ice. All tissues were rinsed with buffer and then ground in 1300 µL ice-cold 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, using plastic pestles in 1.5 mL reaction tubes. After centrifugation at 20,000× g for 10 min, the supernatant was used as crude extract for enzyme assays.