Ants do not possess lungs; instead they breathe through tiny external openings called spiracles that connect to an internal network of microscopic tubes called tracheae, which deliver oxygen directly to tissues and cells.
How they breathe
Air enters the ant’s body through multiple spiracles located along the thorax and abdomen, then passes into branching tracheal tubes and finer tracheoles that bring oxygen directly to muscles and organs while carbon dioxide exits the same way, relying largely on diffusion rather than a circulatory gas‑transport system like lungs and blood in vertebrates.
Anatomical adaptations
The tracheal system is lined with chitin and may include air sacs or muscular pumps in some species that help move air and regulate exchange; spiracular valves and small muscles can open or close passages to control airflow and reduce water loss in dry environments.
Limits and consequences
Because gas exchange depends on diffusion through tubes rather than bulk transport by blood, insect respiratory systems impose size constraints and influence behaviour and habitat choice, helping explain why insects like ants are small and rely on high surface‑area structures for efficient respiration.
Observation and study
Researchers study spiracles and tracheal function using microscopy and airflow experiments to understand how different species adjust respiration during activity, rest or environmental stress, revealing a diversity of solutions across the many ant species found worldwide.
Quick related facts
- No lungs: respiration via spiracles and tracheae.
- Gas exchange: diffusion through tracheoles directly to tissues.
- Control: spiracular valves and muscular movements regulate airflow.
- Implication: diffusion‑based breathing limits insect body size and shapes behaviour.