The morphogenetic effect of precocene II on 4th instar nymphs of Triatoma infestans was examined. Topical treatment with precocene II (200, 300 and 400 µg/nymph) induced the formation of adultoids with the following characteristics; rudimentary wings, three segmented tarsi, ocelli, deformed genitalia and mouth-parts and testes with intermediary development. Precocene II also increases the duration of the molting cycle. The survival of the adultoid insects was related to the inverse of the applied doses. These data extend our knowledge of the action of precocene II on triatominae species.
precocene II; Triatoma infestans' nymphs; morphological alterations; biological alterations