Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have two fundamental functions in insects. They protect
terrestrial insects against desiccation and serve as signaling molecules in a wide variety of …

The body surface of nearly all insects, including ants, is covered with a lipid layer that largely
consists of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC). They fulfil several functions, the two best-studied …

Insects have an amazing variety of colors and patterns. It should be noted that pigments
and/or genes involved in body color formation are markedly different between insects and …

Inhibitors of enzymes that inactivate amine neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin), such as
catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), are thought to …

Melanin is involved in cuticle pigmentation and sclerotization of insects, which is critical for
maintaining structural integrity and functional completeness of insect cuticle. The 2 key …

Background The chance to compare patterns of differential gene expression in related
ecologically distinct species can be particularly fruitful to investigate the genetics of …

The evolution of Batesian mimicry–whereby harmless species avoid predation through their
resemblance to harmful species–has long intrigued biologists. In rare cases, Batesian …

The insect cuticle is a multifunctional shield providing shape stabilization and threat
protection. It has a complex composition of cuticular components. Although cuticular …

Cuticle pigmentation was shown to be associated with body temperature for several
relatively large species of insects, but it was questioned for small insects. Here we used a …

N-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD) is a precursor of N-acylquinone sclerotin utilized for cross-
linking between cuticular proteins for cuticle during insect molting. The importance of NBAD …