Effect of a juvenile hormone analogue on phosphatase activity in pupae of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans.

The alkaline phosphatase activity of stable fly pharate pupae treated with 10 ng of an insect juvenile hormone analogue (JHA), Stauffer R-20458, or untreated pupae was rhythmic and peaked 48 and 96 hr after larval-pupal apolysis. Those treated with 10 μg were not rhythmic and peaked at 48 and 120 hr. Acid phosphatase activity showed a general increase throughout pupal-adult transformation and was three- to four-fold higher than alkaline phosphatase activity. At 24 and 48 hr after larval-pupal apolysis, acid phosphatase was lower in the treated animals, but at 72 and 120 hr, it was higher. Neither inhibition nor enhancement of acid and alkaline phosphatase activity or by three other JHAs could be demonstrated in vitro.