Effects of the juvenile hormone mimic ZR-515 (Altosid®) on larval development of the mud-crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii in various salinities and cyclic temperatures

Abstract

Effects of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 ppm methoprene (Altosid®: ZR-515), a juvenile hormone (JH) mimic which shows high activity against some economically important insect pests, especially Diptera, were tested on larvae of the mud-crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) (Brachyura: Xanthidae) from hatching to the first crab stage under optimum and stress conditions of a number of salinities and cyclic temperatures. There was a significant reduction in survival of zoeal larvae with increasing concentrations of methoprene in nearly all combinations of salinity and temperature. On the average there was 9% less survival in the 0.01 ppm concentration of methoprene than in the control, and in the 0.1 ppm concentration the survival was further reduced by another 16%. At 1.0 ppm methoprene no larvae survived beyond the first zoeal stage under optimum conditions or under stressful combinations of salinity and temperature. Except at 0.2 ppm in 27.5% S, survival of the megalopa was not significantly reduced in 0.01 or 0.1 ppm methoprene in any salinity or temperature, although the percentage of abnormal megalopa increased under stress conditions. The first zoeal stage was the most sensitive of the larval stages to methoprene as well as to salinity and temperature stress. The duration of zoeal development was significantly lengthened with an increase in concentration of methoprene under nearly all conditions of salinity and temperature. The JH mimic had, however, no significant effect on the duration of megalopa development. A significant synergism between methoprene, salinity and temperature was not observed. It can be concluded from the results that methoprene does not inhibit metamophosis of R. harrisii larvae at the 0.1 ppm level or lower. Reduction in survival of zoeal stages and increased duration of zoeal development with increasing concentrations of methoprene are presumably related to stress.