Regulation of rectal secretion in saline-water mosquito larvae living in waters of diverse ionic composition

1. Larvae of the saline-water mosquito Aedes campestris were adapted to three waters, all having an osmotic concentration of 700 mOsm, but differing in ionic rations. The (Na+Mg) SO4 medium was much moretoxic than the NAHCO3 or the NaCl media. 2. Ionic and osmotic concentrations of haemolymph and rectal secretion were measured in larvae adapted to all three media. The ratio of ionic concentrations in the rectal secretion reflected those in the external medium to which the larvae had been adapted, with the exception of SO42-, which was possibly replaced by HCO3-in the secretion. These differences in rectal fluid composition persisted even though all ligated recta were bathed in the same artificial haemolymph. 3. The Malpighian tubules were found to be the major site of SO42- excretion. In media containing high levels of NA+, Mg2+, K+, Cl- and HCO3-, the rectum secreted a hyperosmotic fluid containing these ions at concentrations several times greater than those found in the haemolymph. 4. These data provide the basis for speculation on the functioning of anal papillae in waters of diverse chemical composition.