How do insects breathe?

Question

Do ants even breathe? If they don't, how do they stay alive? On what resources do they depend upon to stay alive? How are they different form mammals?

Answer 1

Hello!

Very good question and not something commonly thought about. Insects actually do not contain lungs, like mammals do. Instead, they have tracheae. Think of the trachea in humans, or the windpipe. On insects, these are small tubes that transport oxygen to the insect. The opening to these tubes are called spiracles.