Relative transcript levels of <i>dib</i> genes.

<p>The mRNA levels were measured in <i>S. furcifera</i> second through fourth instars (I2D1, I2D2, I3D1, I3D2, I4D1, I4D2 and I4D3) (A) and in <i>L. striatellus</i> fourth (I4D1 to I4D5) and fifth instars (I5D1) (B) at 24 h intervals, and in the head, thorax and abdomen of <i>S. furcifera</i> I4D3 (C) and <i>L. striatellus</i> I4D5 (D) nymphs. For each sample, 3 independent pools of 5–10 nymphs were measured in technical triplicate using qRT-PCR. The values were calculated using the 2^−ΔΔCt method. The relative expression levels were the ratios of relative copy numbers in individuals of specific developmental stage or specific body part to that in <i>S. furcifera</i> I2D1, <i>L. striatellus</i> I4D1 or the head of corresponding species. The bars represent averages with vertical lines indicating SE. Bars with the same lowercase or uppercase letters are not statistically different at P = 0.05 or 0.01.