Abstract:Effects of dietary nickel on total sugars, protein and total lipids in the hemolymph of the 6th instar larvae, pupae and adults of Spodoptera litura Fabricius were investigateed by exposing S. litura larvae to the artificial diets amended with different concentrations of nickel for 3 generations. It was indicated that 1 generation exposure lowered the total sugars in the hemolymph of the 6th instar larvae, pupae and audlts in comparison with those in control. Proteins in the hemolymph of different developmental stages of S. litura increased at low levels of nickel, but decreased at high levles of nickel. Higher concentrations of total lipids were only occurred in the 6th instar larvae of the 1st generation exposed to 1-20 mg/kg nickel comparing to that in control. Total lipids and calorie in the pupae and adults were lower than those in control in the 1st generation. Dose-dependent responses of total sugars, protein and calorie in hemolymph of the 6th instar larvae, pupae and adults in the 2nd and 3rd generations were characterized as stimulation at low levels of nickel, and inhibition at high levels of nickel. However, total lipids in hemolymph of the 6th instar larvae, pupae and adults in the 2nd and 3rd generations were all lower than those in control. Hence, effects of dietary nickel on the energy substances in the hemolymph of S. litura were correlated with the type of energy materials and the developmental stages of S. litura.