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Journal of Experimental Biology 34,226-236 (1957)
Published by Company of Biologists 1957

Absorption of Water by the Egg of the Garden Chafer, Phyllopertha Horticola L

ROGER LAUGHLIN ¹

¹ University School of Agriculture, King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne; Agricultural Research Council, Unit of Insect Physiology

1. The garden chafer egg absorbs nearly twice its own weight of water in the early stages of the incubation period.

2. The chorion is thin, uniform and elastic, and the surface is covered with granules. Several layers of epembryonic cuticle are added as the embryo develops. These layers are resorbed before hatching takes place.

3. The rate of development, the rate of water uptake and the length of the rapid absorption period are equally affected by temperature.

4. Eggs are most easily desiccated in the rapid absorption period.

5. The yolk of the new-laid egg has an osmotic pressure of about 13 atm. The extra-embryonic fluid of the swollen egg has an osmotic pressure of about 8 atm.

6. Eggs absorb little or no water from sucrose solutions with osmotic pressures of 15 atm. or over.

7. New-laid eggs cannot absorb water from air at 98% relative humidity. Swollen eggs placed in air of this humidity collapse and die.