The background to my question is the fact that in my current RP my Taeran bugs are creating a close alliance with oxygen-breathers.
Thermodyne: No. Completely no. You're trying to reason with it the normal way. Not all living creatures have to use oxygen - if we cant explain it it doesnt mean it cant be.
Loser: Yep, my bugs didnt have much oxygen there, but they had some - i doubt the mere existance of the gas would cause equipment failure. Still an interesting note to remember.
Erax: Your completely right, unlike humans or mammals in general insectoids do not breathe with their skin - first of all because of the lack of such
they have tough natural carpace and have multiple breathing orifices, usually along their thorax or legs.
So considering the exoskeleton is airtight and the only places that receive outside air are treated with a breather, and of course pressure and gravity are in reasonable limits, my bugs should be able to survive on an oxygen or even on a methane atmosphere right?
BTW, regarding Earth not being an Oxygen planet, technically this is true but i think it depends what the planet's flora and fauna uses, plus the atmosphere layers composition (for all i know atmosphere has plenty of H20, 03 and 02 in it) rules that the planet is, after all, an oxygen planet.