Why Don’t Insects Have Blood?

Insects don’t have blood in the way that humans do. Instead, they have hemolymph. This fluid is the same color as blood, but it doesn’t carry red blood cells. Unlike our blood, hemolymph doesn’t carry oxygen or transport waste products. It is also greenish in color.

Hemolymph is composed mostly of water. It also contains some hemocytes, which are cells that help insects move around. Its composition is quite variable, but is often yellow to green. It serves several essential functions for insects, including the transport of substances around the body, protection from pathogens, and reproduction.

The legs of flies are covered with hairs, which may serve as tiny feelers. They can also help dissipate heat. Small hairs at the base of each leg also help the fly determine where its leg is placed. As an adult, flies have six legs. In larval form, they have only two legs.

Some flies are highly selective when it comes to their prey. Some flies only feed on bats. Their preference for bats may be determined by their skin microbiomes. Because different species of bacteria produce different airborne chemical signals, they may be attracted to different insects. That’s why bats are particularly attractive to blood-sucking flies.

As insects don’t have closed circulatory systems, they rely on hemolymph to transport nutrients and wastes. They also use tracheal tubes to breathe.

Continue reading:

How Old to Fly Alone in the UK Types of Insects That Bite People in the UK How Do Flies Cause Diarrhea? Will Flies Eat Margarine? How Does Heat Affect Flies? Why Are Fruit Flies Attracted to Fruit? What Happens When Flies Land on Food? How a Hot Air Balloon Flies