The Permeability to Water of the Cuticle of the Larva of Opifex Fuscus (Hutton) (Diptera, Culicidae)

Fourth-instar larvae of Opifex fuscus were found to have a mean body weight of 7·61 mg, a water content of 85·2%, and a mean cuticular surface area of 29·3 mm2. Larvae ligatured at neck and anus were found to lose 1 % of the body weight per hour when immersed in sea water. The osmotic permeability coefficient of the cuticle was calculated from these data to be 2·4 × 10− 2 cm. h− 1. Measurement of the diffusional permeability coefficient (Pd) by means of tritiated water and Deuterium oxide gave a value for this parameter of 4·8 × 10− 3 cm.h− 1. The diffusional permeability of the cuticle of Opifex fuscus is thus less than that of typical freshwater insects, as predicted by Shaw & Stobbart.