BHC as a xenobiotic, showing histopathological changes in the developing ovaries and variability of the behaviour of Poekilocerus pictus.
The leaf-hopper P. pictus is a well-known pest of Calotropis plants. Adult females and males were treated with a sublethal BHC concentration to control fecundity and viability. Marked histological changes occurred in the follicular epithelium of both pathological and immature oocytes. Vitellogenesis was completely arrested and the PYP bodies present prior to treatment disintegrated and were resorbed by the pycnotic follicular epithelium. Fibrogenesis and thickening of the tunica propria gradually decreased. The sublethal BHC concentration injected into the haemolymph severely damaged the fat bodies and thus adversely affected the developing ovaries. When adults were treated and kept in separate pairs, mating was prolonged; it was followed by ovulation, but the number of eggs was always smaller than in the control females and they did not develop any further, although provided in the laboratory with all normal conditions.
Jain
K
K
Department of Zoology, Dr. H.S. Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar (M.P.), India.
Bhide
M
M
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015262:Xenobiotics; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane