We saw that muscle contraction results from the interaction of thick myosin and thin filaments. Muscle contraction requires large amounts of energy in the form of ATP, which is produced by energy-yielding pathways during flight activity. Most of the ATP is formed within mitochondrial membranes.
Mitochondria require large amounts of oxygen to support energy metabolism.
The oxygen is joined with hydrogen atoms to form water at the last step in the electron transport chain. Carbon dioxide is formed as pyruvate is decarboxylated before entering the Kreb's cycle, and at two steps within the Kreb's cycle. On a mass-specific basis, some insect flight muscles are capable of the highest metabolic rates of any muscles in the biosphere. The transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of organisms is also called respiration. In insects respiration is conducted by the trachael system.