ABSTRACT
This work is an attempt to investigate the effects of various atmospheric humidities on the death points of insects at high temperatures. A number of species of insects were used, and an attempt made to correlate the results with those of previous workers.
The method of preparing mixtures of sulphuric acid and water to control atmospheric humidity is described by Buxton (1931 b).
It was shown that when Lucilia adults and Tenebrio larvae were killed at 45° C. the amount of lactic add present in their bodies was increased. This may possibly have some bearing on this point.
The work of Beattie (1928) shows that adult Calliphora are killed by desiccation in dry air at about 40° C. in 1 hour. For that period, 70 per cent, is the optimum humidity—in moister air the heat kills them, presumably as they cannot regulate their temperature.
