Effect of Hormone agonist on the Accessory Sex Glands of Female <i>Spodoptera mauritia</i> Boisduval (<i>Lepidoptera: Noctuidae</i>)

Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval commonly called Paddy Army worm is a sporadic pest of Oryza sativa L. causing considerable economic losses. This study shows the effect of Pyriproxyfen (PPN), a juvenile hormone agonist on the ultrastructure of Accessory Sex Glands (ASGs) of adult female S. mauritia. The present study is being conducted as there are not much studies being done on the accessory sex glands of female insects though the glands play an important role in their reproductive life. The histology of ASGs of treated females showed conspicuously small columnar epithelial cells without any secretion in the lumen. The Ultrastructure revealed degeneration of the connective tissue, empty spaces among the epithelial cells and shrinkage of nuclei of the epithelial cells. The cytoplasm contained very few RER, abnormal mitochondriae and many lysosomes. Cytoplasmic vacuolation was more prominent towards lumen. The chitinogenous cells appeared ruptured and vacuolated, chitinous intima and specialized secretory apparatus were totally absent. Ultrastructure of ASGs of control insects revealed a well differentiated glandular epithelium as seen in normal insects.