Endocrine basis of wing casting and flight muscle histolysis in the fire antSolenopsis invicta

Summary In the imported fire antSolenopsis invicta, wing casting and flight muscle histolysis are blocked by allatectomy. Treatment of alate allatectomized females with a synthetic mixture with high juvenile hormone activity induced wing casting and flight muscle histolysis. Apparently, wing casting and flight muscle histolysis in the fire ant are part of postemergence developmental program regulated, directly or indirectly, by the corpora allata.The author thanks the Entomology Department of the University of Georgia for postdoctoral support and Dr A.O. Lea for the use of his facilities.