The ecdysteroid agonist KK-42 [l-benzyl-5(E)-2,6- dimethyl-1,5-heptadienyl] imidazole adversely affected the growth of Spodoptera litura and caused a delay in pupation. The compound also caused adult deformation, increased sex ratio in favour of males, and adversely affected the fecundity and fertility of emergent females. The ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone, identified by HPLC, was present in treated and control insects. Ecdysone was also detected in only the insects treated with 1 μg/larva KK-42.