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Journal of Experimental Biology 57,821-838 (1972)
Published by Company of Biologists 1972

Osmoregulation in the Larva of the Marine Caddis Fly, Philanisus Plebeius (Walk.) (Trichoptera)

JOHN P. LEADER ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand

1. The larva of Philanisus plebeius is capable of surviving for at least 10 days in external salt concentrations from 90 mM/l sodium chloride (about 15 % sea water) to 900 mM/l sodium chloride (about 150 % sea water).

2. Over this range the osmotic pressure and the sodium and chloride ion concentrations of the haemolymph are strongly regulated. The osmotic pressure of the midgut fluid and rectal fluid is also strongly regulated.

3. The body surface of the larva is highly permeable to water and sodium ions.

4. In sea water the larva is exposed to a large osmotic flow of water outwards across the body surface. This loss is replaced by drinking the medium.

5. The rectal fluid of larvae in sea water, although hyperosmotic to the haemolymph, is hypo-osmotic to the medium, making it necessary to postulate an extra-renal site of salt excretion.

6. Measurements of electrical potential difference across the body wall of the larva suggest that in sea water this tissue actively transports sodium and chloride ions out of the body.