Effect of juvenile hormone on the embryogenesis of a polyembryonic wasp, Copidosoma floridanum, in vitro.

Single two-cell-stage embryos of a polyembryonic wasp Copidosoma floridanum cultured in 20 microliters droplets of culture medium developed to morulae at the same developmental rate as those in host eggs, but the subsequent development into polymorulae was inferior. This inferior development was markedly improved by addition of juvenile hormone (I, II, or III) or its analogues to the culture medium in a concentration-dependent manner.