- Nutrition (1) (remove) - Hormonal regulation and environmental
influences in the reproduction of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana
(2008) - Regarding hormonal control of reproduction, the
butterfly Bicyclus anynana belongs to a group of the
Lepidoptera, in which egg maturation starts after eclosion, and
thus vitellogenesis and choriogenesis seem to depend exclusively
on juvenile hormones (JH). Using a JH mimic (pyriproxyfen) and
an antagonist of JH biosynthesis (MK-801), reproduction in B.
anynana could be successfully manipulated towards either a
higher or lower fecundity. Especially early fecundity responded
to manipulations. Furthermore, both JH III and JH II were found
in the hemolymph throughout lifetime. Nevertheless, fecundity
and vitellogenin titres were not clearly related to JH titres,
as both decreased continuously with age, although JH III titres
stayed constant and JH II titres increased. Thus, reproduction
in B. anynana is at least to some extent under hormonal control,
with JH being probably an