Do Ants Breathe?
Ants DO breathe. Ants have a respiratory system that brings oxygen in and out of the body. Just like humans, insects are aerobic organisms requiring oxygen to survive. The respiratory system in living beings delivers oxygen to all of the organism’s cells and removes carbon dioxide, the waste product of cellular respiration.
Ant’s Respiratory System
Ants have an interesting respiratory system that consists of spiracles and respiratory ducts called trachea. Spiracles are tiny openings on the outside of the exoskeleton and transport oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of the ant’s tracheal system.
How Ant Respiration Works
Once oxygen has entered through the ant’s spiracle, it will then enter the tracheal trunk, where it will then be dispersed throughout the myriad of smaller tracheal tubes that branch out throughout the body. At the end of each tracheal branch is a tiny cell called a tracheole that provides the interface for exchanging gasses.
Did You Know: While resting, an ant will exchange up to 50% of the air in its tracheal tubes every second, which is comparable to human breathing during moderate exercise.
Did You Know: Tubes are lined with chitin, which is a transparent, tough membranous protein material that functions as a support structure for the trachea.
Resources
“Chitin metabolism in insects: structure, function and regulation of chitin synthases and chitinases .” The Journal of Experimental Biology. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2011. http://jeb.biologists.org/content/206/24/4393.abstract.
“Insect Physiology: Respiratory System.” General Entymology ENT 425. North Carolina State University, n.d. Web. 13 June 2011. www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/tutorial/respire.html.
Press, The Associated. “Scientists see how bugs breathe.” Ohio Integrated Pest Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 June 2011. http://ipm.osu.edu/trans/013_242.htm.
