Search results for "Migratory locust"
showing 3 items of 3 documents
Fate and effects of the trehalase inhibitor trehazolin in the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria).
2009
Abstract Trehalose is the main haemolymph sugar in many insect species. To be utilized trehalose must be hydrolysed into its glucose units by trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28). Inhibitors of trehalase have attracted interest as possible pesticides and tools for studying the regulation of trehalose metabolism in insects. To make full use of these inhibitors requires knowledge of their fate and effects in vivo. To this end we have measured trehazolin in locusts using a method based on the specific inhibition of a trehalase preparation. After injection of 20 μg, trehazolin decreased in haemolymph with a half-life of 2.6 days and after 10 days almost 95% had disappeared. Trehazolin did not reach the intr…
Central Modulatory Neurons Control Fuel Selection in Flight Muscle of Migratory Locust
2003
Insect flight is one of the most intense and energy-demanding physiological activities. High carbohydrate oxidation rates are necessary for take-off, but, to spare the limited carbohydrate reserves, long-distance flyers, such as locusts, soon switch to lipid as the main fuel. We demonstrate that before a flight, locust muscles are metabolically poised for take-off by the release of octopamine from central modulatory dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons, which increases the levels of the potent glycolytic activator fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in flight muscle. Because DUM neurons innervating the flight muscles are active during rest but selectively inhibited during flight, they stimulate carbo…
Field application of the juvenile hormone analogue fenoxycarb against hopper bands of Locusta migratoria capito in Madagascar
1997
Summary Field trials have been carried out to examine the suitability of the JHA fenoxycarb in locust control. Laboratory tests have shown that a variety of JHAs, including fenoxycarb, applied to last instar larvae increased mortality, induced morphogenetic defects during metamorphosis, reduced fertility and provoked solitarisation of gregarious hoppers. The phase shift was indicated by green coloration and the acquisition of morphological and behavioural characteristics typical for solitary locusts. The present field experiments should clarify whether or not the effects observed in the laboratory are also observed with hopper bands in their natural habitat and if swarm formation and emigra…