The top and bottom halves of the front end of the beetle are tightly stitched together, creating a rigid shield around the vital organs within. For context, that is equivalent to a 200-pound man enduring the weight of 7.8 million pounds. (Provided by University of California, Irvine professor David Kisailus) “So they have to protect themselves against risk in a way that shorter-lived creatures don’t.”. The diabolical ironclad beetle, a desert bug native to California, can withstand nearly 40,000 times its body weight. But because the shell’s layers follow along with the shape of the nub, any pressure is distributed around the jigsaw joint. Compression experiments conducted by Kisailus and colleagues showed that the exoskeleton held up against up to the crushing force of 39,000 times the beetle’s body weight. Now, a new study has unraveled what makes the beetle so buff, Katherine J. Wu reports for the New York Times. The hardened elytra ensconcing its wings are the top half of the shell, and they connect to the underbelly of the beetle's exoskeleton to make one overall suit of armor. 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The aptly named diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand being crushed by forces almost 40,000 times its body weight. But it’s still alive.”. The point where two plates of material join together is often the weakest point in an impact, a problem that the interlocking pattern of layered jigsaw pieces may be able to solve. Here, the layers are key. Nature. Getting run over by a car only exerted about two-thirds of that force on the beetle’s back, according to a statement. The 1-inch-long insect's exoskeleton is capable of withstanding forces up to 39,000 times its body weight. During compression tests, lead author Jesus Rivera, a graduate student in the lab of David Kisailus, discovered that the diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand a force of about 39,000 times its body weight. Times Internet Limited. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. The interlocking pieces of that suture, called blades, have multiple layers. The beetles cannot be mounte… Many beetles have a rounded body, but the diabolical ironclad is different, having a flat shape and low to the ground profile makes these beetles extremely tough to squish. The diabolical ironclad beetle is so tough, in fact, that if you run one over with a car, it just walks away. While most beetles only live for a few weeks, a diabolical ironclad can live for seven or eight years, in part because it outer shell is so peck-, crunch- and squash-proof. The diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand forces up to 39,000 times its body weight. By mimicking the interlocking nature of these protective layers, scientists could build better planes and armored vehicles. They can do that, researchers discovered, thanks to hardened casings on each wing that interlock and support the beetle's exoskeleton. 17th Annual Photo Contest Finalists Announced. That means that when something tries to squish the beetle, the internal goo can mush toward the back of the beetle, relieving pressure on the vital organs in the front. In a study published in Nature, a British scientific journal, researchers explain this particular species of beetle is so squash-resistant because the insect's armor is layered and pieced together like a jigsaw. Scientists say the armor of the seemingly indestructible beetle could offer clues for designing stronger planes and … Diabolical ironclad beetles can get squished under 39,000 times their weight and survive. Diabolical ironclad beetle is tough The diabolical ironclad beetle has a tough shell that can withstand up to 39,000 times its body weight. The diabolical ironclad beetle can’t fly. Any aliens living around 1,004 nearby stars should be able to see the signs of life on Earth, a study says, A 26-year-old coronavirus patient who was almost taken off life support just walked out of the hospital a survivor. David Kisailus/University of California, Irvine. The top piece and bottom piece join together like the two sides of a zipper, each piece zig-zagging into the other. A new study describes the strength of diabolical ironclad beetle exoskeletons. 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. A diabolical ironclad beetle, or Phloeodes diabolicus. Ironclad beetles (Phloeodes diabolicus) measure about 0.6 to 1 inch (15 to 25 millimeters) in length, and are found in woodland habitats in […] That makes it hard to squish, since the pressure is distributed over the whole shell. Scientists figured out how. David Kisailus/University of California, Irvine. It could even withstand a car running over it. The diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand forces up to 39,000 times its body weight. Another joint in the exoskeleton runs down the beetle’s back. Usually, when pressure is put on something like a jigsaw puzzle piece, it would snap at the thinnest point: the neck of the puzzle nub. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. The paper, published on October 21 in the journal Nature, shows how the beetle’s exoskeleton uses internal layers, tight joints and overall near-indestructable shape to give it both toughness and flexibility under pressure. "Whereas the compliant latching and free-standing supports allow deformation of the exoskeleton, so that the beetle can squeeze into crevices in rocks or tree bark.". or The researchers recorded the sedan experiment on video in 2015, capturing two rounds of a Toyota Camry driving directly over a diabolical ironclad beetle in a parking lot. The diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand 39,000 times its weight. The researchers found three different types of connections, called lateral supports, between the top and bottom halves of the beetle's exoskeleton. 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