How do lice breathe through spiracles?

Like other insects, lice do not possess lungs. Instead, they utilize a respiratory system consisting of a network of tubes called tracheae that connect to the outside environment through small, valvelike openings known as spiracles.1

In lice, these breathing pores are located on the thorax and abdomen. Specifically, they possess one pair of thoracic spiracles and a maximum of six pairs on the abdomen. These structures function as the primary entry and exit points for gas exchange. Muscles located on or near the spiracles regulate their opening and closing, allowing the insect to take in oxygen-rich air and release carbon dioxide as a waste product. Once inside, the air travels through the tracheae to smaller tubes called tracheoles, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the body's tissues through diffusion.21