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Journal of Experimental Biology 55,435-448 (1971)
Published by Company of Biologists 1971

Water Relations in an Insect, Thermobia Domestica : I. Water Uptake from Sub-Saturated Atmospheres as a Means of Volume Regulation

A. Y. K. OKASHA ¹

¹ School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NOR 88C

1. Water uptake is not inhibited by centrifugation, exposure to 45 °C, burning of the integument or by submergence in water for 1 h.

2. Repeated desiccation followed by rehydration does not inhibit water uptake. This, however, results in insects with an extremely high water content.

3. Starvation also results in insects with a very high water content, the latter depending on the length of starvation, and also results in the depletion of dry matter.

4. Desiccation followed by rehydration does not result in any loss in dry matter additional to that caused by starvation.

5. The ability to rehydrate of insects desiccated at various stages of the moulting cycle is described. It is concluded that at the later stages of the moulting cycle water uptake ceases.

6. The results are discussed in the light of current theories of the uptake mechanism. It is suggested that the uptake mechanism is primarily concerned with volume regulation.

7. It is also suggested that anal blockage, which is known to arrest uptake, results in a nervous inhibition bringing about such an effect, rather than the rectum being the site of uptake.