Respiratory System- by Sarah Gabric

Respiratory System

 

Honey bees inhale and exhale through orifices, called spiracles, of which they have 20 (3 on each side of the abdomen and 7 on each side of the thorax). The spiracle openings are quite small when compared with the chamber, call the atrium, which lies just behind them. The atrium connects to trachea, with an intervening valve, and to the tracheal system branches into ever finer tracheoles as it approaches, surrounds and penetrates tissues and organs.

 

The next time you have an opportunity to watch a honey bee ‘at rest’ notice the motion of her semi-telescoping abdomen. You will likely see it pumping in and out, this expanding and contracting action pulls fresh air in and pushes expired gases out, via the ostia, of her lung-like body.