ABSTRACT
The Hexapoda afford diverse biological systems for studing action of bioactive molecules on physiological processes. This chapter is concerned with various tin steroid compounds and focuses on their action on a wide range of insect species and their several physiological, behavioral, and developmental processes. It presents results obtained from preliminary screening of several of these compounds for toxicity and antifeedant and selected biochemical action on different insects. The insects were reared on soaked cotton seeds and water. Toxicity of the tin steroids was assessed against the following: M. domestica, S. litura, M. separata, C. maculatus, A. aegypti, and C. fatigans. Antifeedant action was studied only on the larvae of the two lepidopteran species, as these are both known to be voracious and polyphagus feeders. Further comprehensive and intensive investigation of these compounds on different biological systems, including the specific bioactive structural moieties, is obviously indicated.
