Thoracic wing hearts pull hemolymph from the wing at slower frequencies than the dorsal vessel however, the velocity of returning hemolymph (in the hindwing) is faster than in that of the dorsal vessel. The global system forms a circuit, but local flow behavior is complex, exhibiting three distinct types: pulsatile, aperiodic, and “leaky” flow. High-speed fluorescent microscopy and particle tracking of hemolymph in the wings and body of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana revealed dynamic flow in every vein of the fore- and hindwings. Despite the critical role of hemolymph circulation in maintaining healthy wing function, wings are often considered “lifeless” cuticle, and flows remain largely unquantified. Wing hemolymph circulation is critical for hydrating tissues and supplying nutrients to living systems such as sensory organs across the wing. An insect’s living systems-circulation, respiration, and a branching nervous system-extend from the body into the wing.
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