Phase Transition of Lipids in Overwintering Insects

Abstract

Lipid is one of the major components in organisms; that is, triacyiglycerols and phospholipids are known as an energy source and the major constituent of the membrane, respectively. Their transition between liquid and solid occurs often under the biological environments. Insects are ectotherm of tropical origin. They, however, flourish everywhere on the earth except ocean. We have investigated how they can survive during the cold winter. Insects sometimes avoid and sometimes utilise the thermal transition of the lipids above and hydrocarbons that cover the body surface against dehydration.