The application of organic insecticides in the agrotechnical praxis resulted in a great and unexpected progress in the control of insect pests, and was of a great economical value all over the world. The widespread application of these agents, however, is also accompanied by negative effects. The principal drawback of classical insecticides consists in the lack of their specificity, the useful insects being killed together with insect pests. Furthermore, the broad-scale application for many years led to the formation of more resistant insect strains requiring higher and higher doses of insecticides. The residues of the mostly used chlorinated compounds accumulate in human and animal foods producing directly or indirectly harmful effects in human sub jects. The critical situation led in many developed countries to the restriction in the usage of some types of classical insecticides. Under these circumstances it is quite natural that novel routes for the control of insect pests are investigated. In this connection, attention has been paid especially to the insect endocrinology and insect hormones which regulate the admirable and in many regards specific development from the egg to the adult insect. The recent successful discoveries in this field are thus in close relation to the practical requirements. Isolation and identification of moulting hor mones and juvenile-hormone-like naturally occurring substances not only made possible an exact investigation of their physiological effects but also stimulated the chemical research.

Although insect endocrinology is one of the oldest and most active branches of insect physiology, its classic general texts are long out of date, while its abundant primary literature provides little biological context in which to make sense of the discipline as a whole. In this book, H. Frederik Nijhout's goal is to provide a complete, concise, and up-to-date source for students and nonspecialists seeking an overview of the dynamic and wide-ranging science that insect endocrinology has become since its beginnings nearly eighty years ago in the study of insect metamorphosis. The author offers a comprehensive survey of the many roles that hormones play in the biology of insects. Among the topics discussed are the control of molting, metamorphosis, reproduction, caste determination in social insects, diapause, migration, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, diuresis, and behavior. The account features a summary of the most current and accurate thinking on the complex roles of ecdysone and juvenile hormone in the control of metamorphosis, a process still misunderstood and misrepresented in biological textbooks and many professional reviews. Throughout, the book's emphasis is on the biology of the organism and the ways in which physiological and developmental regulatory mechanisms are integrated into the insect's life cycle.

Insect biochemistry and molecular genetics have become enormously important sciences. Molecular genetics of drosophila has paced mammalian genetics and has facilitated many advances in mammalian genetics. Moreover, many life-threatening diseases for man are now carried chiefly by insects and our increasing knowledge of the basic science of insects may help to control these diseases. There is no more important facet of insect science than insect hormones, the agents that allow for communication between cells and tissues. This volume updates important areas of this subject, namely: hormonal control of ecdysis; ecdysone receptors in agriculture and medicine; molecular structure of the receptor ligand binding site of ecdysone; a molecular genetic approach to the biosynthesis of the molting hormone; non-steroidal ecdysone agonists; molecular actions of juvenile hormone in drosophila, and insect neuropeptide receptors.

The publication of the extensive seven-volume work Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science provided a complete reference encompassing important developments and achievements in modern insect science. One of the most swiftly moving areas in entomological and comparative research is endocrinology, and this volume, Insect Endocrinology, is designed for those who desire a comprehensive yet concise work on important aspects of this topic. Because this area has moved quickly since the original publication, articles in this new volume are revised, highlighting developments in the related area since its original publication. Insect Endocrinology covers the mechanism of action of insect hormones during growth and metamorphosis as well as the role of insect hormones in reproduction, diapause and the regulation of metabolism. Contents include articles on the juvenile hormones, circadian organization of the endocrine system, ecdysteroid chemistry and biochemistry, as well as new chapters on insulin-like peptides and the peptide hormone Bursicon. This volume will be of great value to senior investigators, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and advanced undergraduate research students. It can also be used as a reference for graduate courses and seminars on the topic. Chapters will also be valuable to the applied biologist or entomologist, providing the requisite understanding necessary for probing the more applied research areas. Articles selected by the known and respected editor-in-chief of the original major reference work, Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science Newly revised contributions bring together the latest research in the quickly moving field of insect endocrinology Review of the literature of the past five years is now included, as well as full use of data arising from the application of molecular technologies wherever appropriate

Although insect endocrinology is one of the oldest and most active branches of insect physiology, its classic general texts are long out of date, while its abundant primary literature provides little biological context in which to make sense of the discipline as a whole. In this book, H. Frederik Nijhout's goal is to provide a complete, concise, and up-to-date source for students and nonspecialists seeking an overview of the dynamic and wide-ranging science that insect endocrinology has become since its beginnings nearly eighty years ago in the study of insect metamorphosis. The author offers a comprehensive survey of the many roles that hormones play in the biology of insects. Among the topics discussed are the control of molting, metamorphosis, reproduction, caste determination in social insects, diapause, migration, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, diuresis, and behavior. The account features a summary of the most current and accurate thinking on the complex roles of ecdysone and juvenile hormone in the control of metamorphosis, a process still misunderstood and misrepresented in biological textbooks and many professional reviews. Throughout, the book's emphasis is on the biology of the organism and the ways in which physiological and developmental regulatory mechanisms are integrated into the insect's life cycle.

This book discusses the effects of both natural (e.g., temperature, humidity, and lack of food) and man-induced stressors (e.g., pollution) on insects. Insect neurohormones and metabolism are emphasized, although all aspects of insect biology are examined. The role of ecdysteroids and juvenile hormones in response to thermal and other stressors is featured, and population studies in insect stress are presented. Entomologists, ecologists, ecophysiologists, physiologists, applied entomologists and others will find Hormones and Metabolism in Insect Stress an important reference resource.