Fig. 6. Diagram integrating conclusions of previous studies on R. flavipes caste regulation with those of the present study. Solid arrows indicate known/observed relationships, and broken arrows represent putative or proposed relationships. (A) Relationship between juvenile hormone (JH), hexamerin and JH-responsive developmental gene networks [taken from Zhou et al. (Zhou et al., 2007)]. The two principal effects observed in the present study were those of temperature (B) and feeding/nutritional status (C). Significant temporal developmental effects were also observed; however, the potential influences of this remain unclear, as well as their effects on downstream factors such as feeding and nutritional status.