Inhibition of growth in developing oocytes of the desert locust.

The location of the terminal oocytes (T) in the ovary of the desert locust dictates whether the penultimate oocytes (T-1) will enter vitellogenesis -- as long as the T oocytes are retained within the ovarioles, vitellogenesis in T-1 oocytes is prevented. When the T oocytes are ovulated into the oviduct, growth of the T-1 oocytes (new T) resumes. Inhibition of vitellogenesis in T-1 oocytes is not due to low rates of JH biosynthesis since high rates of JH biosynthesis were observed in animals in which T oocytes were retained in the ovarioles.