why is the blood of a pieris rapae caterpillar green. (biology question) (need help) :(?

Question

need help. im in honors biology and my teacher honestly expects us to know the answer to this !!! :(

Answer 1

Pieris rapae is a kind of cabbage worm ... which is not really a worm, but the larval stage of an insect .. the Small White butterfly.

The basic reason is that a number of different pigments are used in the animal kingdom for transporting oxygen in the blood. In humans this pigment is hemoglobin, and has an iron atom in its center. The reason certain types of worm (annelids) have green blood is that they use a type of pigment called chlorocruorins that have a magnesium atom in the center instead of an iron atom as in hemoglobin.

However, P. rapae is not a worm, but an insect. Insect blood is not used for oxygen transport, and is therefore generally colorless (clear). However, in some insects, the blood looks greenish-yellow because it contains chlorophyll from the plants the insect eats.

Answer 2

Do Caterpillars Have Blood

Answer 3

Does that caterpillar eat green plants? If so, then the green color of its blood could be caused by the "bioaccumulation" of chlorophyll in its blood cells.

Answer 4

The blood of caterpillars does not have red blood cells. It is called hemolymph and is yellow or greenish. It has dissolved oxygen from the spiracles.

Answer 5

If this is a quiz then think about the fact that not every life form uses haemoglobin, which is composed of iron. So, if not that then what are they using? Hint: what metals do you know that turn green when they oxidize?

Answer 6

Could be you are seeing defense fluid, though the blood lacks hemoglobin and is clear, or perhaps a greenish tint.