Studies on the size of corpora allata, the juvenile hormone III titre in the haemolymph and growth of terminal oocytes throughout three consecutive gonadotropic cycles in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Orthopteroidea: Caelifera: Acrididae)

The effects of factors controlling reproduction in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Charpentier) were investigated under laboratory conditions addition to reproductive parameters, such as pre-oviposition period, number of egg-pods per female and growth of oocytes, changes in the volume of the corpora allata (CA), the juvenile hormone (JH) titre in the haemolymph, and the increase of the terminal (t) oocytes were studied through three consecutive gonadotropic cycles. E. plorans was reared successfully under laboratory conditions and the fecundity was compared with other species of Acrididae.No correlation was found between the volume of CA and the age of adult females, neither with the size of the t-oocytes. The JH-III titre in the haemolymph was very low during pre-vitellogenesis, after which it increased and declined shortly before egg deposition. After the first oviposition, the JH-III titre in the haemolymph did not reach the low values found during pre-vitellogenesis, but did not show high values similar to those recorded before the first egg-laying, as the volume of terminal oocytes increased. Near to the termination of the 2nd gonadotropic cycle the JH-III titre decreased again. No clear cycle of JH-III titre was found in the haemolymph.