Effects of Synthetic "Queen Substance" and Analogues on Survival, Molting, and Metamorphosis of Aedes aegypti^1,2

Authors: SAXENA, K. N.; THORSTEINSON, A. J.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 64, Number 1, February 1971 , pp. 287-291(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

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Abstract:

Effects of synthetic "queen substance" (9-oxo-trans-2- decenoic acid) and several related chemicals on survival, molting, and metamorphosis of the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.), were investigated. The effects of queen substance applied to the 4th-stage larvae included: (1) "rapid" mortality in the treated stage caused by "acute toxicity," (2) delay in molting of larvae, and (3) inhibition of metamorphosis which involved (a) failure of ecdysis caused by nondetachment of the old cuticle during the larval-pupal or pupal-adult molt or (b) failure of pupal or imaginal differentiation resulting in death of the insect. Of the 5 developmental stages of the 4th-stage larvae, the first was most susceptible to rapid mortality and molting delay, while the fourth stage was susceptible to metamorphosis inhibition. Trans-2-decenoic acid had much greater acute toxicity than queen substance but hardly inhibited metamorphosis. The saturated and unsaturated acids with chain length 10-13 carbon atoms were more toxic than those with a shorter chain length. An increase in chain length above 13 C atoms markedly decreased the acute toxicity of the saturated acids but tended to increase toxicity of unsaturated acids. Of these, linoleic and linolenic acids were the most toxic.

The presence of an oxo-group in a saturated or unsaturated 8-10 carbon fatty acid remote from the carboxyl group reduced acute toxicity and increased inhibition of metamorphosis. Methyl esters of such acids, however, had both greater acute toxicity and also higher potency for metamorphosis inhibition than queen substance.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1971-02-01

More about this publication?

Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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