One Tough Insect

 

An insect that could withstand crush and break even up forces of 149 newtons as the information on this insect said. Even a heavy vehicle run into on its body it will not crush, it is “uncrushable”- that is this insect is labelled and known of : the uncrushable insect. What a tough for an insect to be. This insect is the diabolical ironclad beetle or Phloeodes diabolicus. The insect is found according to information in the web on North America and Mexico.

“Equipped with super-tough body armour, the insect can survive being stamped on or even run over by a car. Now scientists have investigated the secrets of how the beetle can withstand forces up to 39,000 times its body weight.” (BBC)

 

So what is the insect secret of being a tough one? The answer, according to the finding: its exoskeleton has a series of interlocking jigsaw shaped joints.

 

“The researchers used microscopy, spectroscopy and mechanical testing, to identify a series of interlocked jigsaw-shaped joints within the exoskeleton, which allow the beetle to withstand forces of up to 149 Newtons (approximately 39,000 times the creature's body weight).”(BBC)

 

“Now scientists have found a jigsaw-like mechanism in their exoskeletons that helps the little creature tolerate forces up to 39,000 times its own body weight….. The beetle, which no longer has its ancestors' ability to fly away from predators, has developed crush-resistant exoskeletal forewings -- called elytra -- as a form of protection, according to the new study published in the journal Nature.”(Bangkok Post)

 

“The beetle's exoskeleton has interlocking joints that make it exceptionally tough.” (BBC)

 

“Using advanced imaging techniques, the researchers saw that the beetle has a series of interlocked jigsaw-shaped joints in its elytra and found that the shape of these blades and their laminated microstructure acted to toughen the exoskeleton.” (Bangkok Post)

 

The discovery have an effects on robotics and engineering as the news said.

 

The main point : The uncrushable insect diabolical ironclad beetle or Phloeodes diabolicus the scientists or researchers found its tough secret for being uncrushable.

 

 

image from Bangkok Post website