Antifreeze agents in the body fluid of winter active insects and spiders

Summary Insects and spiders which are active at subzero temperatures on snow in winter are found to be protected against internal freezing by antifreeze agents present in their body fluid. The body fluid has a melting point of about –1 °C, but the antifreeze agents prevent growth of ice crystals at temperatures down to –6 to –7 °C.Acknowledgment. We would like to thank Anne Lohrman for her kind help in collecting insects and spiders.