Respiratory System Insects 2
Respiratory System Insects 2
Respiratory System Insects 2
Similar to aerobic animals, insects must obtain oxygen from their environment and
eliminate carbon dioxide respired by their cells. This is gas exchange through series of gas filled
tubes providing surface area for gaseous exchange (Respiration strictly refers to oxygen-
consuming, cellular metabolic processes). Air is supplied directly to the tissue and no
haemolymph (blood) is involved in the respiratory role. Gas exchange occurs by means of internal
air-filled tracheae. These tubes branch and ramify through the body. The finest branches called
tracheloe contact all internal organs and tissues and are numerous in tissues with high oxygen
requirements. Air usually enters the tracheae via spiracular openings positioned laterally on the
body. No insect has more than ten pairs (two thoracic and eight abdominal).
classified as follows
8. Apneustic All spiracles closed, closed tracheal system e.g. naiad of may fly.
ORGANS OF RESPIRATION
SPIRACLES
Spiracles have a chamber or atrium with a opening and closing mechanism called valve.
This regulates air passage and minimise water loss. Each spiracle is set in a sclerotized cuticular
plate called a peritreme. Tracheae are invaginations of the epidermis and thus their lining is
continuous with the body cuticle. The ringed appearance of the tracheae is due to the spiral ridges
called taenidia. This allows the tracheae to be flexible but resist compression. The cuticular
linings of the tracheae are shed when the insect moults, but not the linings of tracheoles.
Tracheoles are less than 1 m in diameter; they end blindly and closely contact the
respiring tissues. Taenidia and waxlayer is absent. Cuticulin layer is permeable to gases. It is
intracellular in nature, but enclosed only in the cytoplasm of tracheal and cell called tracheoblast.
Gaseous exchange occurs across tracheoles.There are four tracheal trunks viz., lateral, dorsal,
ventral and visceral, helping in the passage of air.In the trachea, thin walled-collapsable sac like
dilations are present, called as airsacs where taenidia is absent. Airsacs acts as oxygen
reservoir. Provide buoyancy to flying and aquatic insects. Provide space for growing organs. Acts
Oxygen enters the spiracle and passes through the length of the tracheae to the
tracheoles and into the target cells by a combination of ventilation and diffusion along a
concentration gradient, from high in the external air to low in the tissue. Where as the net
movement of oxygen molecules in the tracheal system is inwards (Inspiration), the net
In some aquatic and many endoparasitic larvae spiracles are absent and the tracheae
divide peripherally to form a network. This covers the body surface, allowing cutaneous gas
i. Air store: Air bubble stored beneath wings acts as physical gill, e.g. water bug.
iv. Plastron: Closely set hydrofuge hairs of epicuticle hold a thin film of air indefinitely.