Which hormones are crucial for the molting process in bees?

The molting process in bees, known as ecdysis, is significantly regulated by specific hormones that help control development, growth, and transformation at different life stages. The hormones crucial for this process include PTTH (Prothoracicotropic hormone), Ecdysone, and Juvenile Hormone.

PTTH is produced in the brain and stimulates the prothoracic glands to secrete ecdysone, a steroid hormone that instigates molting by promoting the shedding of the exoskeleton and the reorganization of the underlying tissues. Ecdysone functions at multiple levels, triggering physiological changes that prepare the insect for its next developmental stage.

Juvenile Hormone, on the other hand, helps regulate the timing of metamorphosis. It influences whether the insect continues to develop in the juvenile form or transitions to a mature form. High levels of Juvenile Hormone during the larval stages prevent metamorphosis into the pupal stage, while lower levels facilitate it.

In contrast, the other choices consist of hormones that do not have a direct role in the molting process for bees. Insulin, Ghrelin, and Testosterone are more associated with metabolism, appetite regulation, and reproductive functions in various organisms rather than