How Do Ants Breathe?

All animals need oxygen to survive. Such is why we humans breathe with the help of our respiratory system. Ants however, don’t have anywhere near the respiratory system we have. For instance, they don’t have lungs nor do they have a diaphragm. Which thus, begs the question, how do ants breathe?

In this article we’ll dig deeper into the ant respiratory system to further understand how ants are able to breathe and respire without a complex respiratory system like ours.

How Do Ants Breathe?

Just because ants don’t have a respiratory system like ours doesn’t mean that they don’t have one entirely. In fact, their own kind of respiratory system which while relatively simple, remains to be quite complicated. 

Think about it, ants don’t have diaphragms to pump air, they don’t have lungs for gas exchange and to pass oxygen to the bloodstream, and lastly, they don’t even have blood which transports oxygen to the cells of the body. Yet somehow, they’re still capable of breathing and performing respiration. How?

Well, ants respire by means of a tracheal system, wherein a complex network of tubes deliver oxygen directly to the cells of their bodies. 

In this system, ants breathe through spiracles or tiny holes on their exoskeletons which allow for the passive diffusion of gas in and out of their system. These holes, which they can freely close and open to control air flow, are where they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

Each of these spiracles are connected directly to tiny tubes called tracheae which branch and extend throughout the whole ant body. At the end of these tracheal branches are special cells called tracheoles which provide a moist interface where oxygen is dissolved and eventually diffused into the cytoplasm of adjacent cells.

Likewise, carbon dioxide, the waste product of cellular respiration, diffuses out of the cell, passes through the tracheal system, and eventually gets released through the spiracles as well.

All in all, the tracheal system allows ants to bypass the need for blood and gas transport. Since the tracheal network of tubes branches out throughout the body, they can directly deliver oxygen to the cells and avoid the high energy expenditure of a transport system. Add that to the fact that the tracheal system mostly involves passive diffusion, then you have an extremely energy-efficient respiratory system which allows oxygen to reach respiring cells quickly.

Related Questions

Do Ants Need Oxygen?

Like all animals, ants perform aerobic respiration, meaning they need oxygen to perform cellular respiration. Without oxygen, ants won’t be able to convert fuel such as fats and sugars into chemical energy that drives cellular processes including growth, repair, and maintenance. Simply put, ants won’t survive without oxygen.

Do Ants Have Lungs?

As mentioned, ants don’t have lungs but instead use spiracles to breathe. This is because ants are simply too small to accommodate lungs and the other parts that come with it. Interestingly though, research also suggests that ants are small due to the fact that they don’t have lungs and aren’t capable of taking in greater doses of oxygen. So it’s somewhat a chicken and egg kind of situation.

Can Ants Suffocate?

Due to the nature of their respiratory system, it’s unlikely for ants to suffocate under normal conditions. Because they mostly breathe through passive diffusion, as long as there’s oxygen in the air then they can respire with no issues. However, should their spiracles end up being blocked, be it by chemical repellents or soapy water, then they can most definitely suffocate.

How Long Can Ants Hold Their Breath?

Ants can hold their breath and survive without oxygen for hours and sometimes days. Given that they can store oxygen, ants can live without breathing by closing their spiracles and entering a state of lowered metabolism.

Can Ants Breathe Underwater?

Ants can’t breathe underwater as water blocks their spiracles and prevents air from coming in. In fact, to survive underwater, ants have to close their spiracles and essentially hold their breath. And while they can do so and thus, survive underwater for a relatively long amount of time, they will eventually run out of air and drown.

Summary: How Do Ants Breathe?

To summarize, ants breathe through a tracheal system wherein oxygen enters the body through spiracles or holes in the exoskeleton which directly connect to the trachea, a network of tubes which branch and extend throughout the body. From there, oxygen then reaches the end of these branches where special cells called tracheoles dissolves the oxygen and diffuses it to the nearby cells. At the same time, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the cell and exits the body through the spiracles as well.