Diversity of Insect Peptide Hormones/Neuropeptides

A large variety of peptide hormones and neuropeptides (PHs/NPs) have so far been discovered, purified, and characterized in many kinds of insects. In addition, numerous genes and transcripts encoding novel secretory signaling peptides have been found in insect genomes. Some of them are homologs of vertebrate PHs/NPs, and some of others are unique to insects. This chapter summarizes the structural features and known actions of each PH/NP, with special attention to their phylogenetic relationships with vertebrate and non-insect invertebrate PHs/NPs and their evolutionary origins.