Role of the Corpus Allatum in the Control of Adult Diapause in the Blow Fly, Protophormia terraenovae.

Adults of the blow fly, Protophormia terraenovae developed their ovaries promptly after emergence under long-day conditions at 25 degrees C, although they entered diapause under short-day conditions at 20 degrees C. Application of a juvenile hormone analog (JHA), implantation of the corpus allatum (CA) from reproductive adults, or transection of the nervus corporis allati induced ovarian development under diapause-inducing conditions. Removal of the CA suppressed ovarian development under diapause-averting conditions, and JHA application induced ovarian development in allatectomized adults. Therefore adult diapause in P. terraenovae is caused by a reduction of juvenile hormone secretion from the CA, and the endocrine activity of the CA is inhibited through a nervous pathway by the brain in diapause adults. Copyright 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved