The ‘diabolical ironclad beetle’ can withstand enormous crushing force more than 39,000 times its own body weight, enough to survive being run over by a car. Its exceptional strength comes from highly specialised armour which makes its exoskeleton one of the hardest materials in the biological world. Scientists analysed the beetle’s elytron – a hardened … Read more
3D reconstruction of Cretaceous beetle preserved in amber for 99 million years finally reveals its ‘mysterious’ shape Mysteriomorphidae beetles were first identified around a year ago, experts said However, as their given name hints, their body shape had been quite unclear New specimens from the Kachin amber mines in northern Myanmar were found Experts used a … Read more
Just when you thought the Volkswagen Beetle had gone for good, it’s made a comeback – and it’s not like we’ve ever seen it before. Production of the original Bug came to an end in July, when the final example rolled off the Puebla factory assembly line in Mexico. It ended a chapter of production … Read more
Billions of ash trees could be rescued from a killer beetle through cross-breeding with more resistant varieties and gene editing, scientists have claimed. Emerald Ash Borer larvae have already killed millions worldwide by burrowing through their stems and sucking out the nutritious fluids. But scientists at Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Botanic … Read more
Tiny beetle that attacks ragweed plants and prevents them from flowering ‘could be the key to relieving millions of hay fever sufferers of their symptoms’ Pollen released from the invasive ragweed plant is a key cause of hay fever One plant can release a billion grains of pollen, causing sneezing and itchy eyes Experts found … Read more