Effects of buprofezin on the ultrastructure of the third instar cuticle of the insect Trialeurodes vaporariorum.
Treatment with buprofezin at the beginning of the third instar of Trialeurodes vaporariorum results in death of the larvae at the time of moulting. Electron microscopic observations, after treatment of the larvae with 20 mg a.i./l buprofezin, does not reveal any difference in the ultrastructural profile before apolysis, however formation of a normal lamellate procuticle is disturbed. The pharate procuticle is amorphous, varying in thickness and the mean thickness is greatly reduced. The subcuticle is interrupted several times at locations corresponding with the thinnest places of the pharate cuticle. Epidermal cells contain unusual structures such as myelin figures and hypertrophied mitochondria indicating that buprofezin may have an additional toxic effect on epidermal cells.
De Cock
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Laboratorium voor Agrozoologie, Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
Degheele
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