异色瓢虫非同胞间食卵自相残杀对成虫生殖力的影响

【目的】食卵自相残杀现象常见于瓢虫中,业已明确取食同胞卵对于初孵瓢虫至关重要,但取食非同胞卵的营养价值是否高于蚜虫仍存争议。本研究旨在明确异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis在幼虫期除取食蚜虫外兼捕食非同胞卵是否影响其雌成虫的生殖表现。【方法】在异色瓢虫幼虫期设置3个饲喂处理,即仅饲喂禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi(对照)、除饲喂蚜虫外还分别给各龄幼虫饲喂少量非同胞卵(分散食卵)以及除饲喂蚜虫外仅给高龄幼虫饲喂较多非同胞卵(集中食卵)等,观察雌成虫体型大小、产卵前期、连续10 d的逐日产卵量和卵孵化率等形态和生殖特性。【结果】饲喂处理对瓢虫雌成虫体型大小无显著影响,对照、分散食卵和集中食卵3种饲喂处理下的雌成虫身体体积分别为92.30,89.73和93.98 mm~3;饲喂处理对雌成虫产卵前期也无显著影响,3种饲喂处理下雌成虫产卵前期分别为7.50,7.74和7.70 d;但饲喂处理对雌虫生殖力具有显著影响,分散食卵处理与对照无显著差异,羽化后10 d分散食卵和对照下累计产卵量分别为185和205粒,但集中食卵(88粒)比对照或分散食卵的产卵量显著降低;饲喂处理对卵孵化率无显著影响,对照、分散食卵和集中食卵3种饲喂处理下的卵孵化率分别为63.10%,72.58%和66.61%。【结论】结果说明,异色瓢虫各龄幼虫偶尔取食非同胞卵不影响其成虫的生长发育和生殖,但高龄幼虫捕食较多非同胞卵可降低其雌成虫的生殖力。     

吡虫啉对异色瓢虫种群控害功能的影响

【目的】杀虫剂对天敌的非致死效应是杀虫剂安全性评估的重要内容。【方法】本研究以吡虫啉亚致死浓度处理的大豆蚜Aphis glycines饲喂异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis,测定了异色瓢虫的发育历期、存活率、蛹重和捕食功能反应。【结果】异色瓢虫G0代不论从哪个龄期开始饲喂毒蚜,LC25(W)处理各龄期其发育均显著延长,且未成熟期(1龄至成虫)显著延长,蛹重和存活率显著降低;异色瓢虫G0代从1龄、3龄和4龄开始饲喂毒蚜,显著延长G1代的3龄龄期,显著缩短G1代的4龄龄期;G0代从4龄开始饲喂毒蚜,显著延长G1代1-3龄的发育历期;G0代不论从哪个龄期开始饲喂毒蚜,G1代蛹重都显著降低,G1代幼虫存活率无显著的变化;异色瓢虫对LC25处理的2龄、3龄和4龄幼虫的最大捕食量显著降低,其余组无显著变化。【结论】吡虫啉亚致死浓度对异色瓢虫G0代和G1代的生长发育均产生影响,且影响异色瓢虫的捕食能力,从而影响异色瓢虫种群的控害功能,这种杀虫剂对非靶标天敌昆虫的非致死效应需要在杀虫剂的安全性评估中予以考虑。     

短时高温对绿豆象各虫态生长发育的影响

【目的】为明确短时高温对绿豆象Callosobruchus chinensis (L.)各虫态及其后虫态生长发育与繁殖能力的影响。【方法】以27℃饲养的绿豆象为对照,在30、33、36、39、42和45℃条件下分别对绿豆象卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫进行3 h的短时高温处理。【结果】短时高温对绿豆象卵的孵化率、幼虫的化蛹率和蛹的羽化率均有显著影响,但对卵和幼虫的后续发育影响不显著;幼虫耐高温的能力最强,经短时高温处理后化蛹率均在90%以上;蛹经45℃短时高温处理后虽表现出较高的羽化率,但羽化后成虫的寿命和产卵量均显著降低。卵期、幼虫期和成虫期绿豆象对短时高温的耐受性均有性别差异,其中,卵期和蛹期雄虫耐热性强于雌虫,成虫期雌虫强于雄虫。短时高温处理对绿豆象成虫的繁殖能力影响显著,经45℃处理后成虫的产卵量为32.30粒/头,显著低于对照。【结论】39℃以上的短时高温对绿豆象处理虫态及雌雄性别比有明显的影响,对其后虫态发育的影响仅见高温处理蛹后导致成虫繁殖能力下降。     

薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲生长发育的影响

【目的】探讨入侵杂草薇甘菊Mikania micrantha的利用价值, 及其在棕榈害虫二疣犀甲Oryctes rhinoceros生态防控中的应用前景。【方法】采用浸渍法和室内饲喂法, 研究了薇甘菊甲醇提取物对二疣犀甲取食量、 卵孵化、 化蛹、 羽化及幼虫发育等的影响。【结果】薇甘菊提取物对二疣犀甲具有很好的生长发育调节活性。拒食活性研究结果表明, 在不同供试浓度下, 其对二疣犀甲3龄幼虫均表现拒食活性, 且拒食率与处理浓度呈正相关。薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲的卵后, 孵化率明显降低, 且孵化期延长, 10 mg/mL提取物处理后孵化率仅达66.66%, 孵化期比对照延迟3 d, 同时初孵幼虫死亡率也高达40.43%。采用添加薇甘菊提取物的饲料饲喂1龄幼虫后, 幼虫体重增长减缓, 在处理浓度为10和5 mg/g时, 处理后90 d体重增加量分别为3.83 g和4.53 g, 而对照组体重增加量达到6.87 g。薇甘菊提取物处理老熟幼虫后, 对其化蛹具有抑制作用, 造成化蛹率降低, 化蛹时间延长及蛹的畸形。经薇甘菊提取物处理二疣犀甲蛹后, 成虫羽化率降低, 羽化时间明显延长, 且畸形成虫数量增加, 主要表现为翅无法正常伸展、 虫体瘦小、 无法正常爬行等。【结论】薇甘菊具有开发为生物源昆虫生长调节剂、 并在二疣犀甲防控中应用的潜力。     

地中海粉斑螟卵饲喂的异色瓢虫对豆蚜捕食作用评价

【目的】以地中海粉螟Ephestia kuehniella Zeller卵为饲料人工繁育的异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridisPallas为对象,测定其对豆蚜Aphis craccivora Koch的最佳寻找密度和捕食功能,明确不同饲料处理对异色瓢虫控害能力的影响,为其大量繁殖应用提供依据。【方法】室内测定分别饲喂不同处理地中海粉斑螟卵和豆蚜的异色瓢虫成虫对豆蚜的捕食功能反应及寻找效应。【结果】不同处理的异色瓢虫成虫对豆蚜的捕食功能反应均符合Holling-Ⅱ型模型,取食新鲜卵、紫外线杀灭卵、冷冻卵、冷冻卵加蜂蜜、豆蚜的异色瓢虫对豆蚜的理论日最大捕食量分别为88.20、97.73、78.64、101.81、107.70只,各处理间无显著性差异;相同猎物密度下,各处理的异色瓢虫寻找效应相近;在无竞争状态下最佳寻找密度以豆蚜处理最大,为31.89只,紫外线处理卵、冷冻卵加蜂蜜处理次之(30.40只,30.27只)。【结论】与饲喂豆蚜处理相比,地中海粉斑螟卵饲养的异色瓢虫成虫对豆蚜的捕食功能反应模型无影响,仅会影响数值,但是冷冻卵加蜂蜜的处理,捕食功能各指标与豆蚜处理最为相近,且冷冻卵易保存易使用,可在大量饲养中采用。     

梨小食心虫蛹重对成虫繁殖力和寿命及下一代幼虫发育的影响

【目的】本文旨在明确营养状况不同造成的梨小食心虫Grapholitha molesta(Busck)雌、雄蛹重量差异对其羽化的成虫产卵量、产卵期、寿命及下一代(F1)幼虫发育的影响。【方法】室内条件下,通过不同的饲养方法,获得个体重量不同的梨小食心虫雌、雄蛹,待其羽化交配后,记录其产卵量、产卵时间和成虫寿命;卵孵化前后,分别测量卵和初孵幼虫大小,计算卵孵化率,统计幼虫发育历期。【结果】雌蛹重量对梨小食心虫的成虫产卵量影响显著,其重量与产卵量呈正相关(y=15.505x-59.292);同一条件下,雌蛹与雄蛹重量也呈正相关(y=0.823x-0.538)。同时,雌蛹重量对成虫产卵期影响也较大,蛹重大的个体羽化的雌虫比蛹重小的个体羽化的雌虫产卵高峰期提前1 d;较重、中等和较轻蛹羽化出的雌虫个体每天产卵量高于10粒/雌的时间分别为9~10,7和5~6 d;产卵量高于5粒/雌的时间分别为12~13,9和6~7 d。而雄蛹重量对产卵量、雄成虫寿命影响没有明显影响。较轻的蛹羽化的雌成虫寿命比较重蛹羽化的雌成虫短2~3 d;而雄蛹重量对其羽化的雄成虫寿命影响没有明显规律。雌、雄蛹重量对其羽化成虫的卵孵化率、卵和初孵幼虫的大小影响均不显著,对F_1幼虫发育历期影响也不显著。【结论】梨小食心虫雌蛹重对羽化成虫的产卵量和产卵期等影响显著,田间防治时应注意在不同条件下完成发育的个体,尤其是雌虫,由于营养差异引起的个体大小对随后种群增长的影响。     

亚致死剂量杀虫剂对异色瓢虫繁殖力的影响

为协调害虫的化学防治与生物防治,测定了吡虫啉、鱼藤酮、氰戊菊酯、阿维菌素、抗蚜威和印楝素6种杀虫剂亚致死剂量对异色瓢虫成虫繁殖力的影响．结果表明,各处理异色瓢虫每雌每日产卵量为40～55粒,吡虫啉接触法和饲喂法预处理及鱼藤酮和印楝素饲喂预处理后,均显著低于对照．所有处理间每雌累积产卵量差异不显著．6种药剂2种方式处理异色瓢虫后,其所产卵的孵化率均低于对照,从卵发育至蛹期的累积存活率均显著降低．吡虫啉两种方式处理和氰戊菊酯接触处理,从卵至蛹期的总发育历期显著延长,鱼藤酮两种方式处理和氰戊菊酯、阿维菌素、抗蚜威、印楝素饲喂法处理的总发育历期明显比对照缩短,而鱼藤酮和阿维菌素接触处理的与对照差异不显著．药剂直接浸渍处理异色瓢虫卵后,各处理卵的孵化率均较对照降低．氰戊菊酯处理的l龄幼虫存活率也明显较对照低,2龄至蛹期的存活率也有所下降．鱼藤酮和氰戊菊酯处理的总发育历期显著延长．这些研究结果显示,低剂量的杀虫剂对异色瓢虫繁殖力的影响很复杂,药剂的类型、作用方式、毒性高低以及给药途径等均影响到试验结果．     

甘蔗、玉米气味对亚洲玉米螟成虫产卵和幼虫取食的影响

【目的】农作物间套作对害虫的影响很大程度上取决于害虫的行为反应,通过研究玉米/甘蔗套作系统中植物气味对亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis(Guenee)行为的影响,将为利用化学生态手段防治套作田中的害虫提供依据。【方法】通过昆虫触角电位实验、成虫产卵和幼虫取食实验,测定了甘蔗、玉米植株及二氯甲烷漂洗物对亚洲玉米螟成虫产卵、幼虫取食的影响。【结果】亚洲玉米螟成虫在甘蔗植株上的落卵量(卵粒数、卵块数)与玉米植株差异不显著,取食甘蔗植株的幼虫数量显著低于玉米植株。亚洲玉米螟对甘蔗、玉米叶片漂洗物均可产生EAG反应,且在同一浓度下的反应值之间无显著差异。成虫产卵量(卵粒数、卵块数)在0.1 gE/mL浓度的甘蔗和玉米漂洗物间差异不显著;幼虫对经甘蔗叶片漂洗物处理过的饲料的相对取食率均低于65.00%,显著低于玉米漂洗物处理的饲料。【结论】甘蔗和玉米气味对亚洲玉米螟产卵的影响没有差异,但甘蔗气味会导致初孵幼虫表现出很强的逃逸行为。     

六种昆虫生长调节剂对葱蝇生长发育和繁殖力的影响

用灭蝇胺、氟铃脲等6种昆虫生长调节剂和对比药剂辛硫磷LC_40-50浓度处理葱蝇1龄和3龄幼虫,观察对其生长发育和繁殖的影响;并且研究了葱蝇成虫取食药剂对其繁殖力的控制效应。结果表明：6种药剂中除虫酰肼外,其余都对葱蝇幼虫发育历期、化蛹率、成虫产卵前期、成虫寿命、产卵量有很大影响,对其生长发育和繁殖表现出显著不利性。其中灭蝇胺和氟铃脲处理1龄幼虫后,存活幼虫的历期和成虫产卵前期各延长3天,化蛹率降低26.7%～30.0％,成虫寿命缩短22.3～24.3天,产卵量降低35.5％～49.9％;处理3龄幼虫主要导致产生畸形蛹,且正常羽化的成虫寿命降低18.0～20.67天,产卵量降低45.7%～57.8％。成虫连续取食用牛奶稀释的２ 000倍的药液,能导致产卵前期延长、产卵量减少、卵孵化率降低,幼虫死亡率极高,达95%以上。结果提示,利用成虫补充营养的特性,将灭蝇胺和氟铃脲等混入牛奶或糖水中诱集成虫取食,可有效降低成虫的繁殖力,有助于实现对葱蝇的无公害治理。     

使用生命表评价烯啶虫胺对异色瓢虫的影响

为正确评估广谱杀虫剂烯啶虫胺对天敌昆虫异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis(Pallas)的影响,采取滤纸接触法测定了烯啶虫胺(防治蚜虫田间推荐用量)对异色瓢虫影响,并使用生命表研究了烯啶虫胺对异色瓢虫实验种群的影响,为协调害虫的化学防治与生物防治提供参考。结果表明:该剂量烯啶虫胺对异色瓢虫当代(F0)取食具有显著影响,药剂处理后7d内,成虫取食量显著降低;对F0代成虫寿命及雌虫繁殖能力未见负面影响;烯啶虫胺处理对异色瓢虫初产卵、F1代幼虫及蛹的历期没有显著影响;卵孵化率明显小于对照组,幼虫存活率及蛹羽化率没有显著影响。F0代种群净增值力、周限增长率、内禀增长率与对照相比差异不显著,分别为812.66粒(对照899.73粒)、1.084(对照1.093)、0.081(对照0.089),药剂处理种群加倍时间为8.557d,与对照7.888d相比没有显著延长。这些结果说明,大田中使用烯啶虫胺防治蚜虫时理论上对异色瓢虫种群繁殖及发育没有显著影响,但施药初期会影响异色瓢虫的取食量。     

苯醚威作用于印鼠客蚤的组织学研究

【目的】通过研究苯醚威对印鼠客蚤 Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild,1903)的早 3 龄幼虫和未吸血新羽化成虫的组织学变化,探讨其灭蚤机理,为鼠疫媒介蚤种的防治提供基础资料。【方法】以微量点滴法将苯醚威施药于印鼠客蚤早3龄幼虫和未吸血新羽化成虫,采用组织学、显微摄影及统计学方法观察组织变化。【结果】经苯醚威作用后,印鼠客蚤的早 3 龄幼虫的表皮增厚、卵巢芽生殖细胞萎缩、睾丸芽精原细胞间质减少;未吸血新羽化成虫的睾丸塞消失快、唾液腺细胞破坏严重、中肠上皮细胞萎缩。【结论】(1)苯醚威通过干扰印鼠客蚤幼虫的变态,引起幼虫表皮、生殖芽异常改变,不能发育为成虫而死亡;(2)苯醚威可加速印鼠客蚤新羽化雄性成虫的睾丸塞吸收;(3)苯醚威可破坏印鼠客蚤新羽化成虫的唾液腺细胞,并引起中肠上皮细胞萎缩。     

小黑瓢虫对高氏瘤粉虱捕食作用的研究

在高氏瘤粉虱不同虫态共存的条件下,小黑标虫对高氏瘤粉虱各虫态的选择次序为卵＞1龄若虫＞2龄若虫＞3龄若虫＞4龄若虫和拟蛹,对卵的捕食率均最高,有明显的嗜好选择;小黑瓢虫幼虫捕食粉虱卵的数量,随着龄期的增长而递增,其中4龄幼虫的捕食量最大,4龄期捕食量平均为1565．42粒,占全幼虫期总食卵量的45．42％,整个幼虫期可捕食高氏瘤粉虱的卵数平均为3446．5粒。小黑瓢虫3龄幼虫对粉虱卵的捕食作用率在所给的猎物密度（1500粒／皿）条件下,随着自身密度的增加而降低。     

杀菌剂丙环唑对斜纹夜蛾的毒性

在研究比较了11种农药对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura细胞（简称SL细胞）的毒杀活性基础上,选择毒杀活性最高的杀菌剂丙环唑,对其毒理学机理进行进一步研究。结果表明,丙环唑的细胞毒力最高,在100 μg/mL浓度下处理后48 h,SL细胞的死亡率为98.08％。处理后36 h,丙环唑对SL细胞的LC₅₀值为20.31 μg/mL。丙环唑能明显降低SL细胞的蛋白质含量。以0.5 μg/头的丙环唑注射斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫,处理后72 h,试虫血淋巴总含量及血细胞数分别下降了26.80％和25.26％;在1.0 μg/头的剂量下,则分别下降了37.67%和36.32%。以0.5 μg/头和1.0 μg/头的丙环唑注射处理后,斜纹夜蛾幼虫体重显著降低。此外,丙环唑能降低斜纹夜蛾幼虫血淋巴含糖量及血淋巴蛋白质含量。在注射处理后96 h和120 h,丙环唑对斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫的LD₅₀值分别为0.59 μg/头和0.45 μg/头。丙环唑对SL细胞和斜纹夜蛾幼虫均具有较好的毒杀活性,显示出丙环唑类似物控制害虫的可能性。     

保幼激素类似物对斜纹夜蛾核多角体病毒增殖的影响

分别用5×10⁶,1×10⁷,5×10⁷,1×10⁸ PIBs/mL 4种浓度的斜纹夜蛾核多角体病毒(SpltNPV)感染斜纹夜蛾末龄幼虫（第6龄）,并于同龄期以10μg/头的保幼激素类似物(JHA) methoprene分别对各感染组进行点滴处理,以研究JHA对SpltNPV增殖的影响。研究表明,与对照组相比各不同浓度处理组病毒总产量分别提高227.06%、128.71%、52.62%、33.15%,平均单头病毒含量分别提高49.15%、48.40%、36.40%和31.11%,病毒感染死亡率分别提高119.21%、52.72%、12.64%和1.12%。其中以1×10.7 PIBs/mL感染再经JHA处理的病毒总产量和平均单头病毒含量最高,分别为1 701.8×10⁸PIBs和60.1×10⁸ PIBs。各处理组的病毒总产量和平均单头病毒含量均显著高于其对照组。在此基础上,进一步研究了JHA对染毒与未染毒宿主消化生理的影响。结果表明,JHA处理不仅延长了6龄幼虫的寿命,增加了其取食量,而且还显著提高了幼虫的食物转化率和病毒产量。     

印楝素乳油对梨小食心虫的防控效果研究

【目的】探索0.3%印楝素乳油对梨小食心虫Grapholita molesta的控制效果。【方法】根据梨小食心虫的生物习性,采用浸渍法和浸虫法对梨小食心虫1日龄、3日龄、5日龄的卵和3龄、5龄幼虫进行了杀虫活性测定,采用药膜法对梨小食心虫初孵幼虫进行毒力测定,并通过田间试验测定0.3%印楝素乳油对梨小食心虫的控制效果。【结果】0.3%印楝素乳油对梨小食心虫1日龄、3日龄和5日龄卵的致死中量分别为6.5195、4.5789、6.6268 mg/L,对初孵幼虫的致死中量为6.0495 mg/L,效果较好,而对3龄和5龄幼虫几乎没有杀伤作用。使用有效成分为2.0 mg/kg~3.0 mg/L的印楝素乳油在田间进行梨小食心虫防治试验时,药后5 d和10 d的防治效果在63.18%~76.22%之间,至药后15 d时,防效则下降到27%以下,果实受害明显,表明该药剂已失去控制作用。【结论】印楝素乳油不能作为防治梨小食心虫的专用药剂,仅可在其发生危害的初期,防治其他害虫时,作为兼治的药剂来使用。     

Juvenile hormone analogs greatly increase the production of a nucleopolyhedrovirus

The commercial production of baculovirus insecticides is limited by the need to produce the virus in living insects. The influence of juvenile hormone analogs (JHA) on the growth and survival of Spodoptera exigua larvae placed on treated diet in the fifth instar was examined. Weight increases observed in methoprene- and fenoxycarb-treated larvae were over three-fold greater than that of control insects, whereas other compounds resulted in lower weight gains (pyriproxyfen) or highly variable responses (hydroprene). Approximately 90% and 70% of fenoxycarb and methoprene-treated larvae, respectively, molted to a supernumerary sixth instar and attained a final weight at 8–10 days post-treatment that was approximately double the maximum weight observed in control larvae. Inoculation of fenoxycarb and methoprene-treated sixth instars with a nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV) resulted in 2.4- or 2.9-fold increases in final weights, compared to control larvae inoculated in the fifth instar. The total yield of SeMNPV occlusion bodies (OBs) per larva was 2.7- and 2.9-fold greater in fenoxycarb- and methoprene-treated larvae, respectively, compared to fifth instar controls. A significant but small increase in the yield of OBs/mg larval weight was observed in fenoxycarb-treated insects but not in the methoprene treatment. The LC₅₀ value of OBs harvested from fenoxycarb-treated insects was slightly higher than that of OBs from control insects, whereas no such difference was observed in OBs from methoprene-treated insects. We conclude that appropriate use of JHA technology is likely to provide considerable benefits for the mass production of baculoviruses.     

Downregulation of the cAMP signal transduction cascade in the prothoracic glands is responsible for the fenoxycarb-mediated induction of permanent 5th instar larvae in Bombyx mori

Fenoxycarb application at 48 h (day 2) of the 5th instar of Bombyx mori induced permanent larvae with prothoracic glands (PGs) exhibiting weak ecdysteroidogenic activity. Although glands from control and fenoxycarb-treated larvae exhibited similar responses to dibutyl cAMP and forskolin on day 2, forskolin could not stimulate ecdysteroid secretion from PGs of fenoxycarb-treated larvae on day 3. Glands from control larvae incubated with cholera toxin (CTX) on day 3 had increased cAMP content and enhanced ecdysteroid secretion. Cholera toxin did not stimulate ecdysteroid secretion and marginally increased cAMP content in day 3 PGs of fenoxycarb-treated larvae. After application of fenoxycarb on day 2, crude brain extracts (cBRAIN) could not increase the glandular cAMP content throughout the rest of the 5th instar of the treated larvae. Fenoxycarb did not affect the basal or cBRAIN-stimulated cAMP accumulation in control PGs on day 2 and day 3 in vitro. Application of fenoxycarb on day 2 did not affect the recombinant PTTH (rPTTH)-stimulated ecdysteroid secretion on day 3, but reduced the cBRAIN-stimulated ecdysteroid secretion on day 3 to levels similar to that of rPTTH. The combined results suggest that the cAMP signalling cascade in the PGs of B. mori becomes nonfunctional after fenoxycarb application on day 2 of the 5th instar.     

The effect of the juvenile hormone analog, fenoxycarb, on ecdysone receptor B1 expression in the midgut of Bombyx mori during larval-pupal metamorphosis

The Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) midgut undergoes remodeling during the larval-pupal metamorphosis. All metamorphic events in insects are controlled by mainly two hormones: 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH). Fenoxycarb, O-ethyl N-(2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)-ethyl) carbamate, has been shown to be one of the most potent juvenile hormone analogs against a variety of insect species. In this study, the effect of fenoxycarb on EcR-B1 protein expression in the midgut of Bombyx mori during the remodeling processwas investigated. Fenoxycarb was topically treated to the beginning of the fifth instar Bombyx larvae. Its application prolonged the last instar and prevented metamorphic events. Analyses were performed from day 6 of the fifth instar to 24 hr after pupation in controls and to day 14 of the fifth instar in the fenoxycarb treated group. According to our results, the presence of EcR-B1 in the midguts of the fenoxycarb treated group during the feeding period suggested that EcR-B1 was involved in the functioning of larval cells and during this period fenoxycarb did not affect EcR-B1 status. Immediately after termination of the feeding stage, the amount of EcR-B1 protein increased, which indicated that it may strengthen the ecdysone signal for commitment of remodeling process. In the fenoxycarb treated group, its upregulation was delayed, which may be related to the inhibition of ecdysone secretion from the prothoracic gland.     

Induction of dauer larvae by application of fenoxycarb early in the 5th instar of the silkworm,Bombyx mori

Fenoxycarb application from 0 h until 60 h of the 5th instar of Bombyx mori induced 100% dauer larvae. Between the 60 and 78 h, the ratio of fenoxycarb-induced dauer larvae decreased, and the ratio of supernumerary instar moulting larvae increased. After application of fenoxycarb at the 48 h of the 5th instar, the haemolymph prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) titer was higher in fenoxycarb-treated larvae than in control larvae. Furthermore, brain-corpora cardiaca-corpora allata (Br-CC-CA) complexes from fenoxycarb-treated larvae released higher amounts of PTTH in vitro than the Br-CC-CA complexes of control larvae. Prothoracic glands (PGs) of fenoxycarb-treated larvae at the 48 h of the 5th instar exhibited basal and PTTH-stimulated secretory activities similar to that of control PGs until the 72 h of the 5th instar. After that time point, both basal and PTTH-stimulated secretory activity of PGs from fenoxycarb-treated larvae significantly decreased and remained low for the rest of the investigated period. The combined results suggest that the application of fenoxycarb affects the ability of the PGs to be stimulated by PTTH and the induction of dauer larvae in Bombyx mori is not due to inhibition of PTTH release from Br-CC-CA complexes.