Ecdysteroids are mainly synthesised in the prothoracic glands, which regulate larval moulting and metamorphosis in insects. After degeneration of the prothoracic gland during pupal–adult metamorphosis, the ovary becomes the source of ecdysteroids in adult females. Here, we demonstrated that the high ecdysteroid level after adult eclosion decreased in the first few days in the eclosed adult red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The ecdysteroids in the freshly eclosed adult might originate from pupae and/or ecdysteroidogenic cells present in the anterior part of the adult body. The ecdysteroid in the haemolymph at the very beginning of adult stage may be important for ovarian development. While ecdysteroid levels decreased in the haemolymph, the ovaries acquired the ability to produce ecdysteroids with increased enzyme gene expression.

中文翻译：

---

红粉甲虫 Tribolium castaneum（鞘翅目：Tenebrionidae）全身蜕皮类固醇生成活性和蜕皮类固醇对比减少的端营养卵巢成熟

蜕皮激素主要在前胸腺中合成，它调节昆虫的幼虫蜕皮和变态。在蛹 - 成虫变态过程中前胸腺退化后，卵巢成为成年雌性蜕皮激素的来源。在这里，我们证明了成年红粉甲虫 Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)（鞘翅目：Tenebrionidae）在头几天羽化后的高蜕皮激素水平下降。刚脱出的成虫体内的蜕皮激素可能来自成虫前部的蛹和/或蜕皮激素细胞。成年初期血淋巴中的蜕皮激素可能对卵巢发育很重要。虽然血淋巴中的蜕皮激素水平下降，