The effect of the persistence of juvenile hormone mimics on their activity on Rhodnius prolixus

Abstract

The apparent juvenile hormone (JH) activity of methyl 12-homo-juvenate on fed fifth instar Rhodnius prolixus is nearly twelve times greater if the compound is applied topically over a period of 7 days (serial application) rather than as a single dose 1 day after feeding. Of five other JH mimics tested, four were more active by serial application, although none showed so great an increase in activity as methyl 12-homojuvenate; only farnesyl methyl ether was more active by single application. It is considered that the generally greater activity shown in the serial application tests is because less JH mimic is wasted by degradation and/or excretion. Therefore the serial application test provides a more accurate estimate of inna e JH activity than the single application test.