Newly-ecdysed last instar larvae of H. zea grouped into 100-, 200-, 300-, or 400-mg categories were fed diet containing precocene II or given precocene II topically on the abdomen. The time for larvae to reach a maximal weight, time to pupation, growth rate, and the amount of precocene II excreted were calculated. Younger larvae of lower weights, which were fed or topically treated with precocene II required more time to reach their maximal weight, had a lower maximal weight, a lower growth rate, and required more time to pupate than control larvae. Older larvae represented by the largest weight category were less sensitive to precocene II, had a shorter delay in reaching maximal weight, and a shorter delay in the time to pupation than control larvae; larvae in the largest weight category that were fed precocene II also had smaller decreases in the growth rate. Growth rate declines for larvae given topical doses of precocene II, however, were largest for the oldest larvae. All larvae given a single topical dose excreted precocene II for several days and were most efficient at eliminating smaller doses; larger, older larvae excreted more precocene II than smaller, younger larvae. Age-dependent responses to precocene II indicate that growth and metabolic processes, as well as xenobiotic metabolism, change in last instar larvae.* Mean time to pupation (days + SEM) for last instar larvae treated topically was analyzed by category with the Kruskal-Wallis test (c~ = 0.01). Pair-wise comparisons within each category were made (c~ = 0.01) and values with the same letter indicate means that were not significantly different. Mean time to pupation (days + SEM) for dietary treatment was analyzed by category with the Wilcoxon test (~ = 0.05) and all means in each 4 mM group were significantly higher than their control counterpart except the 400 mg category.