Ecdysteroid levels and pupariation in drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Abstract Ecdysteroid titers measured in the haemolymph of third instar larvae of Drosophila revealed the existence of a small peak (40 ng/ml) preceding the major peak at pupariation. Under experimental conditions of delayed pupariation, the release of both ecdysteroid peaks is retarded. The possibility that the earlier pulse is implicated in the programming of the time of pupariation is raised.