The role of macromolecular antifreeze in the darkling beetle,Meracantha contracta

Summary Macromolecular antifreeze solutes are present in the hemolymph of the overwintering larvae of the darkling beetle,Meracantha contracta. These antifreeze solutes produce a thermal hysteresis in the hemolymph of overwinteringMeracantha larvae whereby the freezing point of the hemolymph may be 3–4 °C below the melting point. This thermal hysteresis is very similar to that produced by proteinaceous and glycoproteinaceous antifreezes which are used by many cold water, marine teleost fishes to prevent freezing. One function of the macromolecular antifreeze inMeracantha may be to hinder inoculative freezing which might otherwise occur because of the dampness of the hibernaculae. A probably more important function is to depress the supercooling point of the frost susceptibleMeracantha larvae, thereby preventing lethal ice formation in the larvae's body fluids down to temperatures of approximately –11 °C.