# Circulating Insects **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 13, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116 "2003-03-13T15:50:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116/1 "2003-03-13T15:50:25Z")
Question: In the [Do insects have circulatory systems like other creatures?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbugheart.html) article dated 13-Mar-2003 the question starts: > [@](#): > > As with most of your readers, I have a bet going with a good friend about insect circulatory systems… I can, of course, only speak for myself, but how may of you have a running bet with a good friend about the circulatory system of insects? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116/2 "2003-03-13T16:21:47Z")
Well, I don’t actually HAVE any good friends (I used to have one, but we parted ways after getting into a heated argument about the chemical composition of squid ink – [_Hey! Maybe if we had settled it with a bet, we’d still be friends!_]), but I DO have a bet going with a casual acquaintance about insect circulatory systems. But since it’s not a good friend, I don’t quite meet your criteria. Although I suppose this COULD bring us closer together. ---
**Author:** ![kjkolb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ec8ea/32.png) [@kjkolb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjkolb)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116/3 "2003-03-13T18:43:43Z")
Nope, I don’t have any bets like that. However, here’s a Scientific American article about how insects breathe. [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=00083146-7E13-1E30-8B3B809EC588EEDF](http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=00083146-7E13-1E30-8B3B809EC588EEDF) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116/4 "2003-03-13T18:44:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SDSTAFF Doug \* > \*\* > Nearly all non-aquatic insects deliver oxygen to their cells (and remove CO2) through micro-tubules called “tracheoles” that join up to larger passages connecting to openings (“spiracles”) in their body wall. \*\* This, of course, inspired (snork!) that big Jefferson Starship hit: “If only you could breathe Like flies can breathe, baby Through spiracles We’d get by…” ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116/5 "2003-03-14T02:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biffy the Elephant Shrew \* > \*\*This, of course, inspired (snork!) that big Jefferson Starship hit: > > “If only you could breathe > Like flies can breathe, baby > Through spiracles > We’d get by…” \*\* It’s posters like you, and posts like that, my friend, that bring me back to the SDMB every day. Where else can you get jokes with the word “spiracles” in them, I ask you? And even if you can find the jokes, this is the best place to find people who will actually laugh at them. I hope you stick around.