Developmental and teratogenic effects of precocene 2 on the bed bug, Cimex Lectularius L.

Abstract

Contact application of precocene 2 (6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene) to inseminated adult female bed bugs inhibited egg maturation and affected egg viability. Third-stage nymphs exposed to 100/ig/cm 2 showed precocious maturation after the moult to the next stage. Nymphs exposed to lower concentrations of precocene exhibited teratism of the antennae, including the reduction of terminal sensillae. This was thought to be responsible for the bugs not assembling.Reduction in the fecundity in adult bugs, and the morphogenetic and teratogenic activity in nymphs was circumstantially related to reduced levels of juvenile hormone, as a result of exposure to precocene.

The effects of precocenes in grasshoppers Heteracris littoralis (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

“…The natural precocenes (Bowers et al, 1976) induce mainly symptoms of permanent juvenile hormone deficiency in sensitive insects, especially Hemiptera (Bowers et al, 1976;Tarrant and Cupp, 1978;Unnithan and Nair, 1979;Oliveira Filho et al, 1980;Farag and Varjas, 1981;Feldlaufer et al, 1981) and in Acridoid Orthoptera (Pener et al, 1978(Pener et al, , 1981Nemec et al, 1978;Chenevert et al, 1980Chenevert et al, , 1981Perron et al, 1981;Lange et al, 1983).…”