Moulting inhibition inMegoura viciaeBuckt. (Horn. Aphid.) by n-butanol

Abstract

Xegorrra cici~r. larvae topically treated with n-butanol die before moulting; n-butanol has a low toxicity for adults. The integument of the treated larvae reveals the absence of a cleavage between the old cuticle and the new one when it is completely formed. Histology of the cerebral and retrocerebral organs sho\vs degeneration ot the corpus allatum as observed after treatment with juvenile hormone mimics.It is suggested that n-butanol inhibits secretion of the moulting fluid with subsequent non-digestion of the old cuticle and prevention of exocuticle splitting. ~ (Received 13 ]irtie 1979)