Aspects Of Insect Endocrinology

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endocrinology is one of the oldest and most active branches of insect physiology, its classic general texts are long out of date, while its abundant primary literature provides little biological context in which to make sense of the discipline as a whole.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.

The endocrinological control of the numerous processes associated with the physiology and development of insects has been the subject of extensive research during the past decade. This monograph presents a wide range of information on the insect endocrine system. Particular attention is given to the mechanism of action of insect hormones during growth and metamorphosis, with special reference to the functioning of the organism as a whole. The role of insect hormones in reproduction, diapause and the regulation of metabolism and behaviour is discussed. The prospects for insect hormones as insecticides are also considered.

Phase and Caste Determination in Insects: Endocrine Aspects is a collection of papers presented at a Symposium of the Section Physiology and Biochemistry of the XV International Congress of Entomology, held in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Contributors explore the endocrine aspects of phase and caste differentiation in insects, with emphasis on the crucial roles of juvenile hormone (JH) and queen bee determinator. This book is comprised of 11 chapters and begins with a discussion on the role of JH in caste formation in honey bees, bumblebees, and termites. Subsequent chapters explore environmental, genetic, and endocrine influences in caste determination in the stingless bee; endocrine control over caste differentiation in higher termites and Myrmicine ants; the influence of external factors on hormone effects in termite caste determination; and the role of JH in the polymorphism of aphids. The final chapter deals with the regulation of aphid polymorphism by neurosecretory cells. This monograph will be a valuable resource for entomologists, endocrinologists, physiologists, and biochemists as well as insect enthusiasts.

Endocrinology II concerns the actions of hormones in insects, complementing Volume 7 which is concerned with the production and chemistry of insect hormones. While the preceding volume is directed mainly towards the insect endocrinologist, this volume has much of intrinsic interest to the general physiologist. It deals with the regulation of metabolism, reproduction, cuticle properties, and certain aspects of behaviour from a systems point of view and amply documents how hormones have provided basic insights into the functioning of such systems. Interference in endocrine regulation could provide future systems for insect control and this volume will provide the foundation on which the future formulation of these strategies is based. More information on diverse aspects of insect hormone action is brought together here than in any previous single work and this volume will therefore be a valuable reference source for many years to come.