Figure 1.

Flow chart for the mechanism that controls body size in Manduca. During the last larval instar there are three physiological decision points (diamonds) that control the timing of the cessation of growth. The amount of growth in the intervals between these conditional events determines the final size. PCG, growth prior to the critical weight; during this period the larva achieves approximately half its final mass. ICG, the interval to cessation of growth, which corresponds to the delay period between attainment of the critical weight and the secretion of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) (see Figure 2).