Fig. 5.

Pteridine and ommochrome pigments generate color in the R. prolixus cuticle; 76 h old adults resulting from fifth instar dsRNA injections against a) GFP (control); b) ok A; c) sepia; d) ok B; e) cinnabar; f) scarlet. Details of the thorax for g) control GFP; h) ok A; i) sepia; and j) scarlet KD. No differences in eye color were observed for sepia, ok A, or ok B KDs. Note the red cuticle color in ok A, sepia, and scarlet KD (asterisks). Details of the abdominal connexives for k) control GFP; l) ok A; m) sepia; n) ok B; o) cinnabar; and p) scarlet KD. Observe the loss of red pigment spots in ok B, cinnabar, and scarlet (double arrows). q) Prospective function of loci associated with the production and transport of ommochrome and pteridine pigments in R. prolixus, based on KD phenotypes herein presented. In italic: red represents R. prolixus loci that resulted in a change in eye color compared with wild-type; pink letters or asterisks indicate loci that resulted in no visible eye pigmentation phenotype, but generated connexive pigmentation defects upon KD. Orange letters refer to functions associated with body pigmentation, particularly in the thorax and head. KF, kynurenine formamidase; PG, pigment granule.