Abstract
Diflubenzuron is the common name of the most potent insecticide belonging to benzoylphenyl urea group. This study describes the effects of orally administered diflubenzuron on ovarian development and structure in mealworms ( Tenebrio molitor). Diflubenzuron was found to disturb growth and development of oocytes. It caused a decrease in both the number of oocytes per paired ovaries, the thickness of the follicular epithelium and the length of the basal follicles during the sexual maturation. However, it had no significant effect on the fine structure of follicular cells and basal oocytes examined in vitellogenic phase. These findings suggest that the reduction in fecundity, observed in several insect species by numerous others, is probably due to interference of diflubenzuron with the vitellogenesis via biochemical processes.
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