Detected in the brain and frontal ganglion and in the axons connecting to the corpus cardiacum and corpus allatum (at protein level). Detected in the brain-subesophageal ganglion (brain-SG) complex, fat body, midgut and ovary. Expression in the brain-SG complex is 2-3 times higher than in the other tissues. Detected at low levels in newly hatched larvae with higher levels in the fifth instar larvae which continue into the early and middle pupal stages. Expression then decreases by 6-day-old pupal stage and reduces further in the adult stage (at protein level). Expressed in the embryonic, larval and pupal-adult development stages. Detected in male embryos 6 days after oviposition with expression in female embryos starting later around day 8. May be proteolytically processed to give rise to a number of active peptides.