Quantitative evaluation of the molting hormone activity in coleopteran cells established from the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

► Reporter gene assay was performed using the coleopteran Colorado potato beetle cells. ► Activity of ecdysone agonists was determined in the reporter gene assay. ► The transactivation activity is linearly correlated to the receptor-binding activity. ► There is no correlation between transactivation and larvicidal activity.