Allatostatins (ASTs) are pleiotropic neuropeptide hormones in insects and crustacean. There major function in the insect is the inhibition of juvenile hormone synthesis by the corpora allata and reduce their food intake1.

The first identified ASTs were isolated from brain-retro cerebral complexes of the cockroach Diploptera punctata2.

ASTs encompass a group of three families determined by consensus sequences, the cockroach type representing the FGLa family, the cricket type representing the W(X)6 Wa family and the PISCF family1.