Biological Activity of a Furanyl Anti-Juvenile Hormonal Compound on Triatomine Larvae

Applied topically to larvae of Rhodnius prolixus, Triatoma infestans, Triatoma Vitticeps, Panstrongylus herrera and Panstrongylus megistus a novel, synthetic, furan‐containing anti‐juvenile hormonal compound, 2‐(2‐ethoxyethoxy)ethyl furfuryl ether (EEFE) induced a variety of biological responses attributable to an enforced cessation of juvenile hormone secretion, including precocious metamorphosis into diminutive adultoids and retardation of molting. The highest percentage of precocious adultoids was obtained when EEFE was applied prior to feeding. In decreasing order of sensitivity to this anti‐juvenile hormone (AJH) were T. infestans, R. prolixus, P. herrera, P. megistus and T. vitticeps. The ED50 of EEFE in R. prolixus compared well with that of the botanically derived AJH, precocene II, but T. infestans was significantly more sensitive to the furanyl antihormone than to precocene II. The significance of these findings is discussed in terms of the complexity of expression of the anti‐juvenile hormonal activity during the post‐embryonic development of triatomines.