Indian Journal of Entomology

Red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst subjected to heat stress showed accumulation of heat shock protein (hsp) along with an insect sugar, trehalose. When the temperature increased from 35 to 45°C, with exposure time of 1, 2 and 4h, the total protein contents estimated were in the order of neonate > adult > pupa > 5^th instar grub. Whereas, at 50°C, 5^th instar grub had the highest protein content followed by adult pupa and neonates at all exposure times. However at an exposure of 55 to 60°C, the total protein content estimated was in the order of adult > pupa > 5^th instar grub > neonates. In contrary when temperature increased from 35 to 60°C, the trehalose content was more in adult followed by pupa, 5^th instar grub and neonates.