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Journal of Experimental Biology 10,16-26 (1933)
Published by Company of Biologists 1933

The Function of the Anal Gills of the Mosquito Larva

V. B. WIGGLESWORTH M.A., M.D.¹

¹ Department of Entomology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The anal gills of the mosquito larva (Aedes argenteus) are the only region of the body that is freely permeable to water. In hypertonic solutions of sugar or glycerol, water is extracted from the gills and the larva shrinks. In pure water this is absorbed by the gills and later excreted by the Malpighian tubes. The absorption of water appears to be effected mainly by osmosis.

Larvae can mature without the gills, but they seem to grow more slowly, and show almost no parenteral absorption of water.

Normally the larva swallows very little fluid. The fluid in the gut is probably secreted in the posterior part of the mid-gut and reabsorbed in the anterior part and in the caeca.

Some of the water excreted by the Malpighian tubes is reabsorbed in the rectum.

As judged by the spontaneous aggregation of the flagellate Polytoma, oxygen is absorbed by submerged larvae all over the body surface, but most actively at the base of the gills. Carbon dioxide is given off equally all over the body surface.

It is concluded that the anal gills are primarily water-absorbing organs, and are only incidentally concerned in respiration.

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