- Joined
- Dec 18, 2010
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- 1,198
You can't squish this 'iron' beetle. Now, scientists know why.
Hardened forewings protect the beetles against piercing and crushing.
www.livescience.com
According to the article, "Microscopic analysis of exoskeleton cross-sections showed lateral support structures that made some parts of the elytra stiffer than others, to distribute weight uniformly over the beetle's back and protect its organs. And further reinforcement came from the seam where the elytra fused together."I wonder why. Seems like the other beetles have elytra that work just fine, so what's this one doing that's different?
I meant what selective pressure caused them to evolve that way, not how they engineered the feat. For example, are they the favored prey of a larger animal with significant jaw strength? Do they force themselves between rocks? To me that's an interesting next step.According to the article, "Microscopic analysis of exoskeleton cross-sections showed lateral support structures that made some parts of the elytra stiffer than others, to distribute weight uniformly over the beetle's back and protect its organs. And further reinforcement came from the seam where the elytra fused together."
I’d assume that they have these specialized elytra as a protection from birds and similar predators. The other darkling beetles native to their habitat (in my area, eleodes sp.) defend themselves with a foul smelling chemical spray, leaving them without so much of a need for such a “shell”.I meant what selective pressure caused them to evolve that way, not how they engineered the feat. For example, are they the favored prey of a larger animal with significant jaw strength? Do they force themselves between rocks? To me that's an interesting next step.
Predators will lose interest if it’s too much work. They’ll move on to a bug that’s easier to eat.I meant what selective pressure caused them to evolve that way, not how they engineered the feat. For example, are they the favored prey of a larger animal with significant jaw strength? Do they force themselves between rocks? To me that's an interesting next step.