Bursicon-expressing neurons undergo apoptosis after adult ecdysis in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

► In mosquitoes, transcription of the two bursicon subunits is negligible in eggs, increases until the pupal stage, and then declines to negligible levels in adults. ► Bursicon and CCAP are co-expressed in specific ventral nerve cord neurons. ► Neurons co-expressing bursicon and CCAP undergo apoptosis following eclosion.