THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM AND OSMOREGULATORY MECHANISM

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GENERAL FUNCTIONS
To maintain homeostasis that is nearly constant environment
For maintaining the uniformity of the hemolymph
COMPONENTS
Malphigian Tubules
o Long; slender tubes closed at their distal ends and found in associated with the hindgut
o Convulated, occurring in pairs from 2-250 or more usually in multiples of two
Among Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, the Malphigian tubules are embedded in the rectum =
cryptonephridial arrangement
In many insects, the Malphigian Tubules are capable of a variety of movement by the
contraction on muscles associated to the Malphigian Tubules
DIETARY FUNCTIONS
Insect diet has greatly influenced the evolution of efficient digestive and excretory systems capable
of handling the problem created by the type of food
In addition to the problem associated with differences in ionic concentrations, allelochemicals when
absorbed into the hemolymph must be eliminated
Example: Zenocerus varietus must eliminate cardiac glycoside via the reduced number of
Malphigian Tubules
o Allelochemicals
Secondary metabolites produced by plants

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Example: phenols and phenolic compounds, alkaloid, flavonoid, glycosides, cardenolides

SALT AND WATER BALANCE

Different environmental situations pose different salt and water problems
Terrestrial forms are constantly faced with the tendency to lose water through cuticular
transpiration and are dependent on the ingested food for the needed salt and water
Freshwater insects must excrete larage amount of water absorbed through the integument and the
gut along with the ingested food at the same time must conserve the inorganic ions
Saltwater Insects must constantly overcome the tendency to lose water through the activities of
the Malphigian Tubules, the hindgut
Excess materials in the hemolymph are basically filtered in the Malphigian Tubules and important
materials that were lost in the process or from the feces are reabsorbed in the rectum
Secretion of water and ions is not a selective process, however, substances that are required to be
reabsorbed into the hemolymph in the proximal portions of the tubules and the rectum
Reabsorption process may also involve active transport and simple diffusion
CONTROL OF DIURESIS & GUT MOTILITY
Production of urine is controlled by diuretic hormone
These substances were isolated in the pars intercerebralis of the brain, corpus cardiacum and
various central ganglia
Proctolin
o Pentapeptide which widely distributed in the insect nervous sytem
o A neuropeptide that was isolated from the the prostodoeum of Periplaneta Americana was
initially known as the gut factor responsive for motility was found to be absent from the
region when the proctodeal nerves were severed

Functions:
Excitatory neurotransmitter

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neurotransmitter

NITROGENOUS EXCRETION
Nitrogenous products tends to accumulate in the hemolymph, as a result pf protein, amino acids
and nucleic acid metabolism
Generally most:
o Terrestrial insects are uricotelic
o Aquatic insects are ammonotelic
Insect urine
o Chemical composition on the diuretic substance that are in excess of insects needs
o Formed as a result of protein and amino acid metabolism and the excess of salt and water
may occur