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A Standardized Protocol for Rearing Carausius morosus (Phasmatodea, Insecta) in Laboratory Settings
Published on: October 1, 2026
A third active AKH is present in the pyrgomorphid grasshoppers Phymateus morbillosus and Dictyophorus spumans
K J Siegert1, R Kellner, G Gäde
1University of Cape Town, Department of Zoology, 7701, Rondebosch, South Africa. kjsiegert@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The corpora cardiaca of the African pyrgomorphid grasshoppers Phymateus morbillosus and Dictyophorus spumans contain three adipokinetic hormones (AKHs): besides two already known AKHs, Phm-AKH-I and Scg-AKH-II (Gäde et al., 1996 [Gäde, G., Kellner, R., Rinehart, K.L., 1996. Pyrgomorphid grasshoppers of the genus Phymateus contain species-specific decapeptides of the AKH/RPCH family regulating lipid-mobilisation during flight. Physiol. Entomol. 21, 193-202]), a new AKH-III, denoted Phm-AKH-III, pGlu-Ile-Asn-Phe-Thr-Pro-Trp-Trp-NH(2), has been characterised. This is only the second AKH-III identified so far, thus, only three insect species - all of them grasshoppers - contain three active AKHs. Phm-AKH-III differs from Lom-AKH-III from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, only in position 2: isoleucine is present instead of leucine. The structure of the Phm-AKH-III was confirmed by synthesis, subsequent mass determination and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The synthetic peptide also induced hyperlipaemia in D. spumans and L. migratoria.
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