Juvenile hormone-controlled vitellogenin cycles in Dysdercus intermedius (Heteroptera)

Two vitellogenic female-specific haemolymph proteins and one yolk-specific protein were demonstrated in Dysdercus intermedius. The yolk-specific protein includes all female-specific protein subunits. A cyclical change in the temporal pattern of the female specific polypeptides occurs during the first gonadotropic cycle. Female specific polypeptides do not occur in the haemolymph during the pre-vitellogenic stages of oöcyte development and during formation of the chorion. Volume changes of the corpus allatum are correlated with changes in yolk precursors in the haemolymph. Allatectomy by decapitation of the female during the early pre-vitellogenic stage suppress the formation of the major female-specific polypeptides. Applications of juvenile hormone-III or corpus allatum transplantation restores the ability to produce these polypeptides.