Ecdysone

Ecdysone is a prohormone of the major insect moulting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. Insect moulting hormones (ecdysone and its homologues) are generally called ecdysteroids. Ecdysteroids act as moulting hormones of arthropods but also occur in other invertebrates where they can play different role. Ecdysteroids also appear in many plants mostly as a protection agents (toxins or antifeedants) against herbivore insects. A pesticide sold with the name MIMIC has ecdysteroid activity, although its chemical structure has little resemblance to the ecdysteroids.