Heat stress is associated with disruption of ion balance in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria

Thermal tolerance is important in determining the spatial and temporal distributions of insects but the mechanisms which determine upper thermal limits remain poorly understood. In terrestrial insects heat tolerance is unlikely to be limited by oxygen supply but in some arthropods, heat stress has been shown to cause haemolymph hyperkalaemia which is known to have detrimental effects on neuromuscular excitability. It is however unresolved if heat-induced hyperkalemia is the cause or the result of cellular heat injury. To address the putative role of heat-induced hyperkalemia we quantified changes in ion and water balance in haemolymph and muscle tissue of the migratory locust during exposure to two static temperatures clustered around the CTmax (48°C and 50°C). We show that heat stress caused a loss of ion balance and severe haemolymph hyperkalaemia which coincided with the onset of heat stupor. Locusts were able to maintain their haemolymph volume throughout exposure, suggesting it is unlikely that osmoregulatory failure is responsible for haemolymph hyperkalaemia. When locusts were allowed to recover from heat stupor, they recovered ion balance quickly but were still unable to function optimally after 24h. The results therefore indicate that both the haemolymph hyperkalaemia and associated depression of muscular function (heat stupor) are secondary results of cellular heat injury and that the cause of heat stupor most be sought elsewhere. •Heat Stress caused disruption of ion balance in locusts exposed to 48°C and 50°C.•No changes in haemolymph volume occurred during heat stress.•Recovery of ion balance was not associated with functional recovery from heat stupor.•Haemolymph hyperkalaemia is likely a result of cellular heat injury and cell death rather than the cause of injury.