Spiracular Valve

The spiracular valve of a butterfly pupa is closed by a contracting muscle. See how the mechanism works

Video by A. Kaiser 2007

X-ray video of spiracular valve and tracheal manifold (Eleodes armata).

Attached to the spiracle is the tracheal manifold. Here, many tracheae branch to connect to other mainfolds or to supply the body wiht oxygen. See how the tracheal system sways in the tide of abdominal movements. This video was recorded by phase contrast x ray analysis at the Advanced Proton Source, Argonnne National Laboratories

Video by A. Kaiser, J. Klok and J. Socha, 2006

Spiracles

Watch as the grasshopper’s abdomen pumps and the first abdominal spiracle opens and closes synchronously

Video from Texas A&M University. 30 MByte