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Side effects of solvents, especially acetone, used for the application of juvenile hormone mimics and chemosterilants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

B. R. Critchley
Affiliation:
Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, London W8 5SJ
A. A. Almeida
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College, London SW 7

Abstract

Acetone at a dose of 1 μl was one of the least toxic of 11 solvents applied topically to fifth-instar nymphs of Dysdercus fasciatus Sign., while ctronellal, n-dodecane and n-tridecane at a dose of 0.5 μl were the most toxic. Acetone applied at 0.3 μl to third- and fourth-instar numphs caused negligible mortalities but about 60% of the treated nymphs gave rise to abnormal adults which, although capable of mating, laid eggs which were significantly less fertile than those from treated individuals which emerged as normal adults. These abnormalities could be attributed to a hormonal imbalance. Apparently normal adults arising from nymphs treated at the third instar with 0.6 μl acetone had 35% fertile matings (controls 70%) due to interference in the production and transference of motile sperm. The effects of acetone as a solvent in laboratory experiments could therefore be confounded with those attributed to juvenile hormones.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

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