Biological activities of juvenile hormone III skipped bisepoxide in last instar nymphs and adults of a stink bug, Plautia stali

Juvenile hormone III skipped bisepoxide (JHSB3), methyl (2R,3S,10R)-2,3;10,11-bisepoxyfarnesoate was recently determined as a novel juvenile hormone (JH) in a stink bug, Plautia stali. To further confirm the biological function of JHSB3 in this insect, its juvenilizing, reproduction-stimulating and diapause-terminating activities and the presence in the hemolymph were examined. Topical application of JHSB3 to last instar nymphs inhibited their metamorphosis in a dose-dependent fashion. In allatectomized and diapausing adults, JHSB3 application exerted stimulatory effects on the development of ovaries and ectadenia in females and males, respectively. JHSB3 was detected from the hemolymph of reproductively active females by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis while its titer in the hemolymph collected from diapausing adults was too low to be detected. These results demonstrated that JHSB3 has biological function as a JH in P. stali. Topical application of JHSB3, its stereoisomers and 10R-JH III also indicated that compounds with the 2R,3S-configuration were more potent than those with the 2S,3R-configuration and 2,3-double bond.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlightsJHSB3 exerts metamorphosis-inhibiting activity on last instar nymphs of Plautia stali. JHSB3 also exerts reproduction-stimulating activity on CA-removed and diapausing adults. JHSB3 is detected from the hemolymph of reproductively active adults. These results confirm the biological function of JHSB3 as the juvenile hormone in this heteropteran insect.