Absorption and metabolism of galactose and galactitol in Anthonomus grandis

Galactitol is a significant metabolite of galactose in fasted adults of Anthonomus grandis; this is the first time that galactitol has been found to be a metabolite of galactose in an insect in vivo. Galactitol is not metabolized, and galactose, at best, is poorly metabolized by the boll weevil to trehalose and glycogen. Because sizeable quantities appear in the haemolymph when fed, galactose and galactitol must be readily absorbed through the gut.