ABSTRACT
Life can exist only within relatively narrow temperature limits, and unusual extensions of those limits always merit attention. An insect species that has displayed a much greater tolerance to high temperature than others is Scatella calida Matsumura, 1915, the adults of which were found in a hot spring, in which its larvae feed on species of algae also adapted to high water temperatures. People visit the springs in order to bathe at temperatures at the limit of human endurance. Brues reported that the hot water from the springs at Yellowstone National Park were populated by various animals, which could survive and even thrive at higher temperatures than most other animals. Although the islands of Iceland are located far to the north of other parts of the world considered to be reasonably comfortable for people to live, it has natural geothermal heating of the ground.
