Temporal molt inhibition by anti‐ecdysone serum injected into lepidopteran larvae

Abstract

Injections of an anti-ecdysone serum into Galleria mellonella L. after the beginning of the wandering stage of the last instar resulted in delayed pupation.Injections before this time did not produce this effect and simultaneous injection of antiserum together with 20-hydroxyecdysone leads to immediate initiation of molt. lmmunocytochemical studies demonstrated the anti-ecdysone serum specifically bound to the prothoracic glands labeling the peripheral extracellular lacunar system and sites of ecdysteroid release.