Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-05-02
muscular Strength OF Insects.
From Chamhers, Jaurnal


From Chambers Jeurnal.l
1t is an interesting study to compare
the motive power Of birds and insects,
and recent experiments prove that they
are superior in this respect to quadru-
peds, especially when the possibility Of
aerial navigation is taken into account
In. a few minutes the condor will soar
many miles in hight; the swallow is not
weary of describing its rapid and grace
full curves for fifteen hours at time. 1t
has been calculated that the eagle, with
its rapid fight, produces an effort sutti-
oient to raise and bear up its own
weight equal to twenty-six horse power
Insect organization is as full of won
ders as that of the bird. The energy
which lives in these curious little crea-
lures may we'll excite the wonder OF an
observer. "If yon compare their loads
with the size of their bodies" says
Pliny, in speaking OF the ants, it must
be allowed that no other animal is en-
dowed with such immense strength in
proportion" Sir Walter Scott suggests
the same idea. When q beetle is placed
under a candle, twill move il in its eff
forts to escape, which is relatively the
same thing as prisoner IN Newgate
shaking the building with his back.
Linneus remarks that an elephant
having the force of horn beetle would
be able to move q mountain.
NJ. Felix Plateau, a young Belgian
naturalist, and son of the celebrated
physician, has lately tried some very
delicate experiments to measure the
muscular strength of insects, as others
have done with man and the horse. The
strength of the last two is estimated by
tke aid of machine called dynamo
meter, where the tension of spring IS
counterbalanced by an effort exercised
for a very short time. A nan. 1t is
found. has power of traction equal to
fve.sixths of his weight; horse, only
the half or two-thirds of his weight but
this is very small in comparison with
the strength of insects, many OF which
can draw forty times that amount.
TIE way in which NJ Plateau has
measured these powers is ingenious. He
barnessed tho insect by horizontal
thread, which was passed over a light,
movable pulley; to this vas attached a
balance, loaded with a few grains OF
sond 10 prevent the insect turning
aside he made it walk between two bars
of glass, on board covered with mus
lin SO as to afford a rough surface. Ex-
citing IL forward, he gradually poured
fresh sand into the balance until " re-
fnsed to advance farther; the sand ana
tbe insect were then weighed, and the
, xperiment was repeated three times, in
80 n TO arrive at correct CONCLUSION
,aue ne greatest effort that each could
80 ~ rue tables which give the results
T ~ ,h.oo ,rsls seem clearly, to demon
,trate that, in t.N.e same group OF .hseGes ~ .
he lightest and smallest possess !ne
yreatest strength, or thst the relative
force is in inverse ratio to the weight.
This law applies also to the experiments
in flying and pushing, as we,. - "
drawing. e
TAis law, assuredly very curious and
in the economy OF nature
has been confirmed by trying dozen
individuals of various species, IN order
to obtain res It's more approaching to-
the truth. TT sse have been fully sue
cessful in confirming previous expe-
rience e-for example, the drone is four
times the weight of the bee, yet it can
only drag a weight fifteen times greater
than its own; whilst the bee easily draws
twenty-three or twenty-tour times Its own
bulk.
IN FLYING
4 can raise a weight very little inferior
TO its own, whilst the drone eau only
in this manner half its own
weight The law in question appears
slso to apply not to the species which be-
orng to the same chronological sub
li,rision, but, in q certain measure, to
he entire class Of insects. 1t is true
hat IL the species examined arc ar
.anped by the increasing order OF their
yeight. the corresponding relations
yhieh express their relative force are
,ot alwa vs. exactly progressive There
,re exceptious, which may be explained
Nv the difference OF structure. The
aw holds good if they are divided into
.bree groups, comprising, respecuvely'I
he ightest insects, those OF middle
,ize and the heaviest. In this way the
-elatiye force is represented for the hrs
-ro,,n by twenty-six; for the second, BY
for the last, by nine. THIS
-elates only to the power Of traction
n that in fying be taken into con-
,ideration, the hghtest can tar sur;
.sss the heaviest; the frst being equal
q one and one-third; the last Is but
,ne-balf The strongest insects Appearto
I. tbose 40 familiar 10 the naturalist
-S;cb live on lilies and roses, such as
- Crioceres aud Trichies- The lfSls
seinrs san draw weight about forty
Iimes superior 70 their own, and one, sn
,tLlete Of The tribe, drew sixty-seven
-ines i,s own weight A small beetle OF
ne tr;be auomale hsE executed the same