Abstract
Both swimming speeds and phototaxis by the four larval stages of the crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii were monitored upon chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of the insect growth regulators methroprene (AltosidR: ZR-515), hydroprene (AltozarR: ZR-512) and dimiline (TH-6040). Larvae were reared under conditions of salinity (20orbo) and temperature (25°C) which produce the greatest developmental success. Sublethal concentrations of methroprene had no effect on swimming rates or phototaxis as compared to the acetone control larvae. For hydroprene, swimming rates by stage I, II and III zoeae were unaffected while a significant increase in swimming speeds occurred in Stage IV zoeae exposed to concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 ppm. Only Stage III zoeae exposed to 0.l ppm showed a significant decrease in the level of positive phototaxis. Dimilin was much more potent, as significant increases in swimming speeds occurred in Stage I, II and III zoeae, with 0.3 ppb being the lowest effective concentration. Although swimming by Stage IV zoeae was unaffected, phototaxis was altered at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppb. Concentrations, which alter behavior, are related to levels which are reported to control mosquitoe larvae.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bookhout, C. G. and Costlow, J. D. Jr.: 1974, Thalassia jugosl. 10, 77.
Bookhout, C. G. and Costlow, J. D., Jr.: 1975, Wat. Air Soil Pollut. 4,113.
Bousfield, E. L.: 1955, Bull. Nat. Mus. Can. 137, 1.
Christiansen, M. E., Costlow, J. D. Jr., and Monroe, R. J.: 1977a, Mar. Biol. 39, 269.
Christiansen, M. E., Costlow, J. D. Jr., and Monroe, R. J.: 1977b, Mar. Biol. 39, 281.
Costlow, J. D., Jr.: 1977, in F. J. Vernberg, A. Calabrese, F. P. Thurberg and W. B. Vernberg (eds.), Physiological Responses of Marine Biota to Pollutants. Academic Press, Inc. New York. P. 439–459.
Costlow, J. D., Jr., Bookhout, C. G., and Monroe, R. J.: 1966, Physiol. Zool. 39, 81.
Diekman, J. D.: 1972, ‘Use of insect hormones in pest control’. 6 pp. Presented at National Insect Pest Management Workshop, Purdue University, Product Development Dept. Zoecon Corp., Palo Alto, California.
Epifanio, C. E.: 1971, Mar. Biol. 11, 356.
Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1974, J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 16, 11.
Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1976a, Biol. Bull. 151,126.
Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1976b, in K. Smith (ed.), Photochemical and Photobiological Reviews, Vol. 1, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 157–209.
Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1977, Mar. Biol. 39, 3
Forward, R. B., Jr. and Costlow, J. D.: 1974, Mar. Biol. 26, 27.
Forward, R. B., Jr. and Costlow, J. D., Jr.: 1976, in Estuarine Processes, Vol I, Academic Press, Inc., New York, pp. 279–289.
Gomez, E. D., Faulkner, D. J., and Newman, W. A.: 1973, Science 17, 813.
Jakob, W. L.: 1973, J. Med. Ent. 10, 452.
Latz, M. I. and Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1977, Biol Bull. in press.
Miura, T. and Takahashi, R. M.: 1973, J. Econ. Ent. 66,917.
Ott, F. S. and Forward, R. B., Jr.: 1976, J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 23, 97.
Payen, G. G. and Costlow, J. D.: 1977, Biol. Bull. 152, 199.
Post, L. C., deJong, B. J., and Vincent, W. R.: 1974, Pest, Biochem. Physiol. 4,473.
Ranenofsky, M., Faulkner, D. J., and Ireland, C.: 1974, Biochem. Res. Commun. 60,172.
Sandifer, P. A.: 1975, Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science 3, 269.
Schaeffer, C. H. and Wilder, W. H.: 1972, J. Econ. Entomol. 65, 1066.
Sláma, K.: 1971, Annu, Rev. Biochem. 40,1079.
Sláma, K., Romanuk, M., and Sorn, F.: 1974, Insect Hormones and Bioanalogues, Springer-Verlag, New York, 477 p.
Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company. TH 6040. ‘Insect Growth Regulator’, Technical Information, C. Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company, Kansas City, Kansas, 25 pp.
Thorson, B.: 1964, Ophelia 1, 167.
Walpole, R. E.: 1974, Introduction to Statistics. The Macmillan Co., New York, 340 p.
Wellinga, K., Mulder, R., and van Daalen, J. J.: 1973, J. Agr. Food Chem. 21, 993.
Zoecon Corporation: 1971, ZR 515. Tech. Bull. 2 pp. (Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Forward, R.B., Costlow, J.D. Sublethal effects of insect growth regulators upon crab larval behavior. Water Air Soil Pollut 9, 227–238 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280709
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280709