Abstract
MALES of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) produce a pheromone when they are sexually mature which accelerates maturation of young males and virgin females1,2. The mature males used as activators in the experiments which established this fact were all reared during hopper (nymphal) and early adult life at high density; as the density of rearing has far-reaching effects on the physiology of locusts, it could not be assumed without further experiment that previously isolated mature males would exert the same influence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Norris, M. J., Anti-Locust Bull., No. 18 (1954).
Loher, W., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 153, 380 (1960).
Norris, M. J., Nature, 203, 784 (1964).
Norris, M. J., and Pener, M. P., Nature, 208, 1122 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
RICHARDS, M., MANGOURY, M. Further Experiments on the Effects of Social Factors on the Rate of Sexual Maturation in the Desert Locust. Nature 219, 865–866 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/219865a0
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/219865a0
- Springer Nature Limited