The physiology and behavior of insect fluid balance
Enjin, Anders LU
and Halberg, Kenneth Veland
(2026)
p.139-159
- Abstract
Water is essential for life. This is particularly true for terrestrial insects, whose small size and high surface-area-to-volume ratios render them especially susceptible to dehydration. To overcome this challenge, insects have evolved sophisticated physiological mechanisms and behavioral strategies to maintain internal ion and water balance despite fluctuating environmental conditions. This chapter reviews current knowledge on the key organ systems that insects use to maintain osmotic homeostasis, emphasizing the critical roles of hormonal signaling in modulating these processes. Additionally, we explore how insects detect and respond to environmental humidity gradients and highlight how sensory information is integrated with internal... (More)
Water is essential for life. This is particularly true for terrestrial insects, whose small size and high surface-area-to-volume ratios render them especially susceptible to dehydration. To overcome this challenge, insects have evolved sophisticated physiological mechanisms and behavioral strategies to maintain internal ion and water balance despite fluctuating environmental conditions. This chapter reviews current knowledge on the key organ systems that insects use to maintain osmotic homeostasis, emphasizing the critical roles of hormonal signaling in modulating these processes. Additionally, we explore how insects detect and respond to environmental humidity gradients and highlight how sensory information is integrated with internal physiological states to guide adaptive behaviors that optimize water balance. Finally, we discuss how these diverse osmoregulatory mechanisms have contributed to the ecological success of insects, enabling them to become the most species-rich animal group on Earth.
(Less)
- author
- Enjin, Anders
LU
and Halberg, Kenneth Veland
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Behavioral adaptation, Epithelial transport, Evolution, Homeostasis, Hygrosensation, Internal state, Ion channel, Neuropeptide receptors, Neuropeptides, Osmoregulation, Osmotic balance, Water vapor absorption
- host publication
- Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science
- edition
- 2
- pages
- 139 - 159
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105028818881
- ISBN
- 9780323958189
- 9780323954242
- DOI
- 10.1016/B978-0-323-95424-2.00046-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- b05efd88-05d7-4f23-af60-7183d741018a
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-26 13:48:37
- date last changed
- 2026-02-27 08:04:40
@inbook{b05efd88-05d7-4f23-af60-7183d741018a,
abstract = {{<p>Water is essential for life. This is particularly true for terrestrial insects, whose small size and high surface-area-to-volume ratios render them especially susceptible to dehydration. To overcome this challenge, insects have evolved sophisticated physiological mechanisms and behavioral strategies to maintain internal ion and water balance despite fluctuating environmental conditions. This chapter reviews current knowledge on the key organ systems that insects use to maintain osmotic homeostasis, emphasizing the critical roles of hormonal signaling in modulating these processes. Additionally, we explore how insects detect and respond to environmental humidity gradients and highlight how sensory information is integrated with internal physiological states to guide adaptive behaviors that optimize water balance. Finally, we discuss how these diverse osmoregulatory mechanisms have contributed to the ecological success of insects, enabling them to become the most species-rich animal group on Earth.</p>}},
author = {{Enjin, Anders and Halberg, Kenneth Veland}},
booktitle = {{Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science}},
isbn = {{9780323958189}},
keywords = {{Behavioral adaptation; Epithelial transport; Evolution; Homeostasis; Hygrosensation; Internal state; Ion channel; Neuropeptide receptors; Neuropeptides; Osmoregulation; Osmotic balance; Water vapor absorption}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{139--159}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
title = {{The physiology and behavior of insect fluid balance}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95424-2.00046-7}},
doi = {{10.1016/B978-0-323-95424-2.00046-7}},
year = {{2026}},
}