Sexually Spread Insect Sterility induced by the Analogues of Juvenile Hormone

Abstract

SOME of the natural or synthetic analogues of the juvenile hormone of insects cause serious disturbance in the development of the embryo when applied topically to the eggs or adult females¹. These materials may constitute a third generation of insect pesticides which prevent insect larvae from becoming sexually mature adults, or inhibit embryonic growth². It has recently been found that one of the synthetic analogues of the juvenile hormone—the so-called dihydrochloride of methyl farnesoate (DMF)³—causes permanent sterility of the females in Pyrrhocoris apterus⁴. It seems that amounts of less than 1 µg of the substance applied to the body surface of the female at any time during the reproductive cycle sterilize the female for the rest of its life. The compound seems to be an ideal sterilizing agent which is non-toxic, acting specifically only on selected insect species; it is highly efficient with long-lasting effects, and is without apparent undesirable side effects⁴.