Scientists anxious to find a safe but powerful pesticide have long been fascinated by the juvenile hormone that is secreted by insects. At certain stages of an insect's life cycle, the hormone must be present to regulate growth and control the transformation from larva to pupa. At other times the hormone must be absent, or the insect will develop abnormally and never reach sexual maturity. If a sufficient dose is given to a mature female, it can make her sterile for life thus eliminating future generations. The trouble is that the hormone,...
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