Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

The Corpus Allatum and the Control of Metamorphosis in Insects

Nature volume 159, page 872 (1947)Cite this article

Abstract

MOULTING in Rhodnius is initiated by a hormone secreted in the dorsum of the brain, and the premature metamorphosis of the young stages is prevented by a second hormone, the juvenile hormone secreted by the corpus allatum1–3. This conception of growth regulation in insects has proved applicable to Orthoptera4–7, Lepidoptera8–10 and Coleoptera11. In the Diptera, on the other hand, the composite ‘ring gland’;appears actively to induce metamorphosis, as though it were secreting a metamorphosis-promoting hormone12.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wigglesworth, V. B., Quart. J. Mic. Sci., 76, 191 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wigglesworth, V. B., Quart. J. Mic. Sci., 79, 91 (1936).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wigglesworth, V. B., J. Exp. Biol., 17, 201 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Pflugfelder, O., Z. wiss. Zool., 149, 477 (1937).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pflugfelder, O., Z. wiss. Zool., 152, 384 (1939).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pfeiffer, I. W., Tram. Conn. Acad. Arts and Sci., 36, 489 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Scharrer, B., Endocrin., 38, 35 (1946).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bounhiol, J., Bull. Biol, Suppl. 24, 1 (1938).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Piepho, H., Biol. Zbl., 60, 367 (1940).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Piepho, H., Arch. Entw. Mech., 141, 500 (1942).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Radtke, A., Naturwiss., 30 (1942).

  12. Hadorn, E., Rev. Suisse Zool., 48, 495 (1941).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Vogt, M., Biol. Zbl., 63, 395 (1943).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Vogt, M., Nature, 157, 512 (1946).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge,

    V. B. WIGGLESWORTH

Authors
  1. V. B. WIGGLESWORTH
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WIGGLESWORTH, V. The Corpus Allatum and the Control of Metamorphosis in Insects. Nature 159, 872 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/159872a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/159872a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing