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Explaining Insect blood


This page explains what it means to be cold blooded.

Insects are cold-blooded, not warm-blooded like we are, or animals are.

Any activity depends on a certain amount of body heat. If you don't have enough heat, you can't do anything! Often, flying insects must "warm up" their bodies by flapping their wings before being able to take off.

 

On the other hand, in very hot temperatures, insects must find shade so they don't overheat. Many insects, including moths, butterflies and bees can funnel heat produced from flying into the abdomen, where abdominal spiracles and body wall allow heat to escape.

Dragonflies at rest change their posture depending on whether they're hot or cold. If hot, they practically stand on their head to make as little surface area as possible exposed to direct sun. If they are seeking warmth, they rest flat on a surface so that as much of their body as possible gets the sun.

 

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