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Effects of the non‐steroidal ecdysteroid mimic tebufenozide on the tomato looper Chrysodeixis chalcites (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): An ultrastructural analysis
Author(s) -
Smagghe Guy,
Viñuela Elisa,
Budia Flor,
Degheele Danny
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6327(1997)35:1/2<179::aid-arch16>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - ecdysteroid , biology , noctuidae , sphingidae , integument , ecdysterone , lepidoptera genitalia , prothoracic gland , medicine , endocrinology , ultrastructure , moulting , midgut , 20 hydroxyecdysone , anatomy , insect , botany , larva , manduca sexta , hormone
Oral treatment indicated that the substituted dibenzoylhydrazine tebufenozide is a potent nonsteroidal agonist of ecdysteroids when tested on last instar larvae of the tomato looper Chrysodeixis chalcites . Treated larvae showed characteristic signs of precocious moulting within 12 h of treatment, leading to head capsule apolysis and cessation of feeding. Electron microscopic analysis of treated integument revealed a forced, untimely synthesis of a new (epi)cuticle via epidermal cell activation; however, normal procuticle secretion was interrupted since the large number of procuticular lamellae that normally appear in controls was conspicuously absent. Further, phenotypic changes of endocrine gland ultrastructure and that of the foregut epithelium and muscle organization were also observed. This compound appears to be a useful tool in endocrine research and in the control of lepidopteran pests. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 35:179–190, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.