Fig. 2. Water content of D. octaedra cocoons during acute (A) and gradual (B) desiccation. The final desiccation strength was 91% RH for both groups. Water content (C) and survival (D) are shown after 4 and 14 days exposure at the final desiccation strength. Student t-tests were employed to test for differences in water content and survival between gradually and acutely exposed cocoons after both short- and long-term exposure. Values are means ± s.e.m. and asterisks indicate significant differences.