Stimulation of egg production in the grain miteAcarus siro by the juvenile-hormone analogue fenoxycarb

The insect juvenile-hormone analogue fenoxycarb (ethyl 2-(phenoxyphenoxy) ethyl] carbamate) has been shown to stimulate egg production in the flour miteAcarus siro L. Incorporation of fenoxycarb into mite food at 10 mg kg^–1 and 100 mg kg^–1 increased egg production by 43% and 99%, respectively. In addition, total mite populations were significantly higher in fenoxycarb-treated media than in controls. These results are discussed in relation to the possible gonadotropic role of juvenilehormone-like molecules in mites, and to the use of fenoxycarb as a grain protectant.