ABSTRACT The fifth instar larvae of Philosamia ricini were reared under food stress. These were kept on starvation for three days. After that the haemolymph was taken for the analysis. Monovalent cations sodium, potassium and divalent cations calcium and magnesium were estimated, to observe the impact of starvation. With respect to ther control worms Na+ ions increased significantly while Mg++ ions showed rather insignificant change. Divalent cation Calcium showed an insignificant change but Magnesium ions showed a significant decrease. KEYWORDS: Haemolymph, monovalent cation, divalent cation, starvation, REFERENCES Asperen, K. van and Esch, I.van (1956). The chemical composition of haemolymph in Periplaneta americana. Arch. Neerl. Zool. 11, 342. Brady J. (1967a). Haemocytes and measurement of porassium in insect blood. Nature, Lond., 215, 96-7. Brady J. (1967b). The relationship between blood ions and blood-cell density in insects. J. exp. Biol. 47, 313-26. Cohen, A. C. and Patana, R. (1982). Ontogenetic and stress related changes in the haemolymph chemistry of beet armyworms. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 71A, 193. Florkin M. and Jeuniaux C. (1974). Haemolymph: composition. In The physiology of Insects. Vol. V, pp.256-307. Nicolson, et al. (1974). Effects of starvation and dehydration on osmotic and ionic balance in Carasius morosus. J. Insect. Physiol. 20, 2061-2069. Pant R, and Agarwal,H. C., (1965). Biochem. J., 96, 824 Pichon, Y.(1963). La teneur en ions Na+, K+, et Ca++ de l`hemolymphe de Periplaneta americana L., ses variations. Bull. Soc. Scient.Bretagne 38, 147. Pichon Y. and Boistel (1963a). Modifications de la composition ionique de l`hemolymphe d`une blatte, Periplaneta americana, saous I`effect du jeune et de la deshydratation. C. R. Seanc. Soc. Biol. 158, 272. Pichon Y. and Boistel (1963b). Modifications in the ionic content of the haemolymph and of the activity of Periplaneta americana in relation to diet. J. insect Phyiol. 9, 887-91. Pichon Y. (1970). Ionic content of haemolymph in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana. J. Exp. Biol., 53, 195-209. Tobias, J. M. (1948). Potassium, sodium and water interchange in irritable tissues and haemolymph of a omnivorous insect Periplaneta americana. J. Cell. Comp. Physiol. 31, 125-142. Treherne J. E. (1954a) The exchange of labeled sodium in the larva of Aedes egyptii. L. J. Exp. Biol. 31, 386-401. Treherne J. E. (1961). Sodium and potassium fluxes in the abdominal nerve cord of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. J. exp. biol. 38, 315-22