Fluorescent insect growth regulators (FIGR's): A new tool for insect physiologists

A compound was synthesized that fluoresces in the visible spectrum and has the properties of an insect juvenile hormone. When it was assayed against Aedes aegypti larvae, it produced larval-pupal and pupal-adult intermediates; when injected into allatectomized adult females, it restored normal egg development. The fluorescent insect growth regulator (5-5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]sulfonyl]amino]-1,3-benzodioxole) when injected into females, could be traced into eggs and newly hatched larvae. Microspectrofluorometric and chromatographic studies indicate that it is metabolically stable. Fluorescent insect growth regulators constitute new tools for the investigation of the action of insect growth regulators in general.