Altitude Tolerance of Normal and Infected Insects1

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Abstract
A new apparatus for studying the effects of low temps. and atmospheric pressures on insects is descr.. Five spp. of arthropods[long dash]Aedes aegypti, Bdellonyssus bacoti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Musca domestica, and Triatoma gerstaeckeri[long dash]were exposed for different periods of time to the low-temp. and negative-pressure conditions correspond-ing to various altitudes. All were killed within 4 hrs. at a temp. of -15[degree]C with an atmospheric pressure of 429 mm. Hg. The insects exposed to a temp. of -5[degree]C with an atmospheric pressure of 522 mm. Hg survived and resumed their normal activities. The low-temp. and low-pressure conditions which were just below the lethal level produced permanent paralysis of some of the insects exposed, notably of Triatoma gerstaeckeri. These para-lyzed insects were unable to feed on exptl. animals or transmit diseases to them. Musca domestica infected with Herpetomonas muscae domesticae, exposed to a temp. of -15[degree]C for 2 hrs., and Triatoma gerstaeckeri infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, exposed to a temp. of -44[degree] C for 2 hours (both with corresponding reduced pressure), all died; the flagellates, however, remained alive and active.