For Immediate Release Contact: Greg Borzo (312) 665-7100 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org Field Museum, Argonne Lab harness powerful x-rays in new technique to study animal functions Researchers discover insect breathing mechanism CHICAGO—Scientists have discovered a surprising new insect breathing mechanism that is analogous to lung ventilation in humans. “The discovery of this fundamental aspect of respiratory biology for insects could revolutionize the field of insect physiology,” says Mark Westneat, associate curator of zoology at The Field Museum and lead author of a study to be published as the cover story of Science January 24, 2003. Insects – the most numerous and diverse group of animals – don’t have lungs. Instead, they have a system of internal tubes called tracheae that are known to exchange oxygen through slow, passive mechanisms, including diffusion. But this study demonstrates that beetles, crickets, ants, butterflies, cockroaches, dragonflies and other insects also use rapid cycles of tracheal compression and expansion in their head and thorax to breath. Tracheal compression was not found for all types of insects studied, but for those where it was found compression patterns varied within individuals and between species. The three species most closely studied (the ground beetle, house cricket and carpenter ant) exchange up to 50% of the air in their main tracheal tubes approximately every second. This is similar to the air exchange of a person doing moderate exercise. Continue