Biology Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 12-2016
Journal
The Canadian Entomologist
Volume
148
Issue
6
First Page
668
Last Page
672
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2016.21
Abstract
The great grig, Cyphoderris monstrosa Uhler (Orthoptera: Prophalangopsidae), is a large (20-30 mm, >1 g), nocturnal ensiferan that in habits montane coniferous forests in northwestern North America. C. monstrosa overwinters as a late-instar nymph, but its cold tolerance strategy has not previously been reported. We collected nymphs from near Kamloops, British Columbia, in late spring to determine their cold tolerance strategy. C. monstrosa nymphs were active at low temperatures until they froze at -4.6 ± 0.3 °C. The nymphs survived internal ice formation (i.e. are freeze tolerant), had a lethal temperature between -9 and -12 °C, and could survive for between five and ten days at -6 °C. Isolated C. monstrosa gut, Malpighian tubules and hind femur muscle tissues froze at temperatures similar to whole nymphs, and likely inoculate freezing in vivo. Hemolymph osmolality was 358 ± 51 mOsm, with trehalose and proline comprising approximately 10 % of that total. Glycerol was not detectable in hemolymph from field-fresh nymphs, but accumulated after freezing and thawing. The control of ice formation and presence of hemolymph cryoprotectants may contribute to C. monstrosa freeze tolerance and overwintering survival.
Citation of this paper:
Toxopeus, J., Lebenzon, J., McKinnon, A., & Sinclair, B. (2016). Freeze tolerance of Cyphoderris monstrosa (Orthoptera: Prophalangopsidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 148(6), 668-672. doi:10.4039/tce.2016.21
Notes
Submission must include acknowledgment and a link to the publisher's version (doi: https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2016.21)