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 Thermal adaptation was investigated in the fruitfly Drosophila buzzatii Patterson and Wheeler. Two natural populations originating from a high‐ and a low‐temperature environment, respectively, were compared with respect to Hsp70 (heat shock protein) expression, knock‐down resistance and heat shock resistance.

 Three main hypotheses were tested: (i) The expression level of Hsp70 in flies from the high‐temperature habitat should be down‐regulated relative to flies from the colder habitat. (ii) Flies having higher Hsp70 expression levels should be weakened most by a hardening treatment and go faster into coma, as Hsp70 level reflects stress intensity, and therefore display reduced heat knock‐down resistance. (iii) Heat shock resistance should be increased in the population with highest Hsp70 expression because the level of Hsp70 is positively associated with this trait.

 The results generally …