JAKARTA – Beetles which has the scientific name Phloeodes Diabolicus is an animal originating from North America. It does not have a beautiful shape, only looks like a small piece of bark or wrinkled stone.
However, make no mistake this beetle shell is one of the strongest materials in the world that is formed naturally.
In fact, the shell is able to protect the beetle’s body from being stepped on by a car though.
Although it can’t fly, the survival skills of these insects are very high.
Scientists have just carried out research using a set of tools to discover the physical and mechanical properties that give this species of beetle its extraordinary strength.
“Ironclad is a terrestrial beetle, so it is not light and fast. It is smaller but very strong,” said materials scientist David Kisailus of the University of California Irvine, as quoted by Science Alert, Saturday (18/06/2022).
This small beetle measures over 1 centimeter and usually lives around the deserts of southwest North America. He used to hide under rocks or tree bark.
The researchers conducted experiments on the Ironclad beetle by performing a compression test of steel plates on the entire exoskeleton of its shell to determine how much force it could withstand.
Through this study, researchers found that the Phloeodes Diabolicus beetle was able to withstand a maximum force of 149 newtons. That is 39,000 times the beetle’s own body weight.
In order to deepen the knowledge, the researchers made further observations of the shell material possessed by these insects more closely.
Researchers found that the shell material consisted of chitin, a fibrous material derived from glucose, and a protein matrix.
When comparing the Ironclad’s exoskeleton with similar beetles, the researchers found that the Ironclad beetle has about 10 percent more protein than other beetle species.
This discovery could pave the way for the development of more durable materials to address external factors causing damage.
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