The Insect That Thrives in Antarctica

The Antarctic midge is the only insect living exclusively in Antarctica, adapting to extreme conditions with unique features like being wingless to retain heat, huddling to conserve water, and using cold hardening and heat shock proteins to survive freezing temperatures. Its life cycle includes a long larval stage to maximize feeding opportunities. Despite its small genome, the midge thrives as the largest land animal in Antarctica, prompting scientific interest in its survival mechanisms and ecological role.

What role do heat shock proteins play in the survival of the Antarctic midge?

Why is the Antarctic midge considered the biggest land animal on the continent?