Identification of an hemipteran juvenile hormone: In vitro biosynthesis of JH III by Dysdercus fasciatus

Corpora allata of the African cotton stainer, Dysdercus fasciatus Sign. (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), produce radiolabeled methyl‐10,11‐epoxy‐3,7,11‐trimethyldodeca‐2E,6E‐dienoate (JH III) when cultured in a medium containing L‐[methyl‐14C] methionine. Similar in vitro studies show JH III biosynthesis by cultured corpora allata of Lygaeid and Pentatomid species. This is the first identification of a juvenile hormone in Hemiptera.