DMusFIG 5: Metabolic differences in L3 and dauer larvae.

A. In developing larvae, such as the L3, nutritional intake is distributed from the intestine to target tissues, including muscles (green) and the developing germline (blue). Metabolic resources are utilized through the TCA cycle for growth, development and movement behaviors.
B. In dauer larvae, nutritional intake is interrupted by the thick dauer cuticle. During dauer formation, metabolic resources are stored as lipids and glycogen in the intestine and hypodermis. In dauer larvae, these resources are utilized, in part through anaerobic pathways, for locomotion and nictation.

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