EFFECT OF JUVENILE-HORMONE AND JUVENILE-HORMONE MIMICS ON SPERM TRANSFER FROM THE TESTES OF THE MALE CAT FLEA (SIPHONAPTERA, PULICIDAE)

Sperm transfer into the epididymis was completed without a blood meal, when newly emerged male cat fleas, Ctenocephadides felis (Bouche), we re exposed to filter papers treated with juvenile hormone III or the j uvenile hormone mimics fenoxycarb, methoprene, or pyriproxyfen. As the concentration of juvenile hormone or the time of flea exposure to juv enile hormone or the juvenile hormone mimics increased, the percentage of fleas that transferred sperm also increased. The percentage of pyr iproxyfen-treated males that transferred sperm reached 100% after 3 d; whereas, 7 d exposure to juvenile hormone, fenoxycarb and methoprene was required for 100% of the males to transfer sperm. Although sperm w ere present in the epididymis of treated fleas, insemination of female s did not take place off the host either on juvenile hormone-treated f ilter paper or on juvenile hormone-treated dog hair.