FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and alimentary tract of the non-hematophagous blow fly, Phormia regina, and the hematophagous horse fly, Tabanus nigrovittatus.

FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) are a diverse and physiologically important class of neuropepeptides in the metazoa. In insects, FaRPs function as brain-gut neuropeptides and have been immunolocalized throughout the nervous system and alimentary tract where they have been shown to affect feeding behavior. The occurrence of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity (FLI) was examined in the central nervous system and alimentary tract of non-hematophagous blow fly, Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and the hematophagous horse fly, Tabanus nigrovittatus Macquart (Diptera:Tabanidae).

Occurrence of serotonin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and midgut of adult female Tabanus nigrovittatus (Diptera: Tabanidae).

Serotonin is an important neuromessenger used in a variety of signaling pathways throughout the animal kingdom. In insects, serotonin has been demonstrated to mediate feeding and feeding-related behaviors. In this study, serotonin antibody was localized in cells and processes throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and midgut of female horse fly Tabanus nigrovittatus Macquart.

The effects of Calliphora vomitoria Tachykinin-I and the FMRFamide-related peptide Perisulfakinin on female Phormia regina crop contractions, in vitro.

The dipteran crop is an elaborate diverticulation of the foregut that serves as an important food reservoir and feeding regulator. Peptidergic innervation has been associated with the crop of the blow fly Phormia regina and myotropic neuropeptides have been previously demonstrated to affect crop contraction rates, in vitro. The blow fly peptide, callitachykinin-1 was found to increase the rate of contractions and alter the contractile morphology of the P.

Mutations in insulin signaling pathway alter juvenile hormone synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

Juvenile hormone (JH) is a key endocrine regulator of insect metamorphosis, reproduction, and aging. The synthesis of JH is regulated by neuropeptides and biogenic amines, but the molecular and cellular basis of this control remains largely unknown. Genetic analysis of JH synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster mutant for insulin signaling may provide new and powerful insights.

Peptidergic innervation of the crop and the effects of an ingested nonpeptidal agonist on longevity in female Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).

Dromyosuppressin (DMS) immunoreactive neurons were discovered running along the crop duct and on the surface of the crop in the house fly, Musca domestica L. DMS is a myoinhibitory neuropeptide that has been shown to inhibit crop contractions, in vitro, in the blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen), and in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. Various concentrations of benzethonium chloride (Bztc), an agonist of DMS with shown inhibitory effects on blow fly crop contractions, were fed to adult female M.

Genetic relationships among populations of Aedes aegypti in Taiwan by using phenotypic and random amplified DNA-polymerase chain reaction markers.

An analysis of gene flow was conducted among collections of Aedes aegypti from 7 localities along the southwestern and southeastern coasts in Taiwan. Markers include 7 types of scaling patterns and 23 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Differences in scaling pattern and in the frequencies of RAPD markers were detected among populations and cluster analyses revealed 2 main groups on each side of the Central Mountain Range.