Know About Alien Blood...?

You probably already knew this, but I didn't. If I did, I more than likely worked very hard not to think about it!

I am not real crazy about insects as it is, but when I found about this...it certainly didn't help! After all, many insects do look a little alien to me! But then I'm no expert!

Insects Have Alien Blood

Actually it isn’t blood at all, but rather something called hemolymph. It’s been somewhere between 500-600 million years since humans and insects shared a common ancestor, so it is no surprise that there are a few differences. Hemolymph is copper-based, rather than the iron that runs in our veins, giving it a blue or greenish tint when it is oxygenated.

It’s not used to carry oxygen, however, as respiration through the skin is adequate for an insect’s oxygen needs. This means they can have a much more relaxed circulatory system. Their hearts beat much less frequently than our own, and can even even enter a state of rest to conserve energy.

A New Zealand insect called the Weta has been popping up on a lot of list sites lately because of a protein in its hemolymph that prevents ice crystals from forming. This is actually not that uncommon, as many beetles, flies and bees possess the same trait.

Now I know that everything in nature is useful in some way, but I need some help to understand what many of them are good for, ya know?

Let's have our coffee in the kitchen this morning. It's a little chilly outside!