Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word apneustic. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word apneustic, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say apneustic in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word apneustic you have here. The definition of the word apneustic will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofapneustic, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Davies, R. G. (1988) Outlines of Entomology, 7th edition, London: Chapman and Hall, →ISBN, page 73:
The holopneustic type of system has all ten pairs of spiracles open, ... while the apneustic type has no functional spiracles, respirationoccurring through the general body surface or gills. The tracheal systems with few or no open spiracles are found in aquatic and endoparasitic insects ... non-functional spiracles are closed or reduced to minute scars, and each is connected to the longitudinal tracheae by a solid stigmatic cord. The latter helps to anchor the tracheal system in position and serves to pull out the old tracheal linings when the insect moults.