Zavattieri’s lab followed up these experiments with computer simulations and 3D-printed models that isolated certain structures to better understand their role in saving the beetle’s life. Rivera collected the beetles from sites around the Inland Empire campus and brought them back to Kisailus’ lab to perform compression tests, comparing the results to those of other species native to Southern California. Learn more about the UC-Irvine's work with these beetles. This exoskeleton, the team found, is composed of chitin, a fibrous material derived from glucose, and a protein matrix. The beetle is so tough it can survive getting run over by a car. That's right, its crush-resistant structures makes it nearly indestructible, specifically, its elytra. Using compressive steel plates, UCI researchers found that the diabolical ironclad beetle can take on an applied force of about 150 newtons — a load of at least 39,000 times its body weight — before the exoskeleton begins to fracture. Ironclad beetles (Phloeodes diabolicus) measure about 0.6 to 1 inch (15 to 25 millimeters) in length, and are found in woodland habitats in […] The diabolical ironclad beetle, found in Southern California's woodlands, can withstand compression of about 39,000 times its own weight. The study found that the diabolical ironclad beetle’s super-toughness lies in its two armorlike “elytron” that meet at a line, called a suture, running the length of the abdomen. Sam Wells, in his blog post about the diabolical ironclad beetle, states: “How the species got its name is a mystery to me.”Personally, I don’t find it all that mysterious. Ironclad beetles (Phloeodes diabolicus) measure about 0.6 to 1 inch (15 to 25 millimeters) in length, and are found in woodland habitats in western North America, where they live under tree bark. A stink beetle or a Namibian beetle are more rounded. When they compared the diabolical ironclad beetle's exoskeleton to that of a similar beetle, they found that the ironclad had significantly more protein - about 10 percent more by weight. A diabolical ironclad beetle, or Phloeodes diabolicus. Found mainly in the U.S. Southwest, the diabolical ironclad beetle hides under rocks and inside trees, but thanks to an exoskeleton, it can even survive being run over by a car. A 200-pound man would have to endure the crushing weight of 7.8 million pounds to equal this feat. The diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus) is found mainly in the US and Mexico, where it lives under the bark of trees or beneath rocks. The diabolical ironclad beetle can survive loads of about 39,000 times its body weight. Now, scientists know what makes the diabolical ironclad beetle so “uncrushable.” In a paper published in the journal Nature, researchers found that the […] He’s a materials scientist at the University of California, Irvine. They found that the diabolical ironclad beetle can withstand a force of about 39,000 times its body weight. Thanks to its almost indestructible body armor, this beetle can get stomped on or run over by a car and live to tell the tale. The diabolical ironclad beetle is so tough, in fact, that if you run one over with a car, it just walks away. Photo credit: Kurt Komoda Photography . More Ironclad Beetle Facts And Questions. Source: UC-Irvine Now scientists know why. The materials would be stiff but ductile like a paper clip, making machinery such as aircraft gas turbines safer and longer-lasting, according to the new study in Nature.. A beetle that lives under tree bark can withstand crushing forces 39,000 times its body weight. The elytra are basi Rivera collected the beetles from sites around the Inland Empire campus and brought them back to Kisailus’ lab to perform compression tests, comparing the results to those of other species native to Southern California. 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