Do Ants Have Lungs?
WouterUnlike humans, ants don’t have lungs. They breathe through tiny openings in their bodies called spiracles. These openings connect to a series of tubes called tracheae. These tubes distribute the air directly to the ant’s cells.
Most scientists believe that ants breathe compressed air. A 2005 study by researchers at Berlin University showed that many insects close their spiracles periodically to avoid receiving too much oxygen.
While there are many similarities between the human and ant respiratory systems, there are also many differences. Ants don’t have a complicated respiratory system like humans, but they still have a heart to pump blood around their bodies. They also have a specialized system of tubes to transport air around their bodies.
The ant heart is a tube-shaped organ that runs from the head to the abdomen. It is enclosed by tiny muscles. This organ pumps colorless blood around the body. The heart also pumps haemolymph, which is a fluid that fills the ant’s body. The fluid is yellow or green in colour and contains 90% plasma. The haemolymph does not carry oxygen, but it does transport other important nutrients.
Ants have nine to ten pairs of spiracles, which are distributed evenly throughout the body. These spiracles connect to a series of tubes called tracheae. Each pair of spiracles is connected to a dorsal spiracle on the top of the ant’s body and a pair on the bottom. These spiracles are connected to the dorsal vessel, which acts as the ant’s heart.
