Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-06-27

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MUSCULAR STRENGTH OF INSECTS.
1T is an interesting study to compare the
motive power Of birds and insects, and
recent experiments prove that they are su.
perior in this respect to quadrupeds, espec-
tally when The possibility Of aerial naviga-
tion-is taken into account. In a few min
utes the condor will soar many miles in
height; the swallow is not weary of de-
scribing its rapid and graceful curves for
fifteen hours at a time. 1t has been
calculated that the eagle, with its rapid
flight, produces an effort sufficient to raise
and bear up its own weight equal to
twenty-six horse power.
Insect organization is as full of wonders
as that of the bird, The energy which
lives in these curious little creatures may
well excite the wonder of an observer. ''If
you compare their loads with the size of
their bodies," said Pliny, In speaking of
ants, "it must be allowed that NO other an
imal is endowed with such immense
strength In proportion" Sir Walter
Scott Suggests the same idea. When
beetle is placed under eandlestick, it
nAAA uIONN IL III It's SuOIIS " MulCH
is relatively the same thing as IL prisoner
in Newgate shaking the building with his
back. Linn@us remarks that an elephant
having the force of a horn-beetle would be
able to move mountain.
Mr.. Felix Plateau, young Belgian
naturalist and son Of the celebrated
physician, has lately tried some very deli
cate 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 the aid of a
machine called the dynamometer, where
the tension of spring is counterbalanced
by an effort exercised for 4 very short
time. A man, it is found, has power of
traction equal to five-sixths of his weight,
horse only the half or two-thirds of his
weight but this is very small in compar-
ison with the strength of insects, many of
which can draw forty times that amount.
The way in which NJ. Plateau has meas
ured these powers is ingenious. He har-
messed the insect by, horizontal
thread, which was passed over light,
movable, pulley; to this was attach
ed balance loaded with a few grains
of sands To prevent the insect turn
ing aside, he made it walk between two
bars ofglass on board covered with mus
lin, so as to afford a rough surface; ex-
citing sitA forward, rhe gradually poured
fresh sand into the balance until it refused
to advance farther; the sand and the in
sect were then weighed, and the expert
ment was repeated three times, in order to
arrive at a correct conclusion as to the
greatest effort that each could make. The
tables which give the result of these trials
seem clearly to demonstrate that in the
same group of insects the lightest and
smallest possess the greatest strength; 50
that the relative force is in inverse ratio
to the weight. The law applies also to
the experiments in flying and pushing, as
well as to drawing.
This law, assuredly very curious and
interesting in the economy of nature, has
been confirmed by trying dozen individ-
uals of various species in order to obtain
results more approaching to the truth.
These have been fully successful in con-
firning previous experience-for exam
pie, the drone is four times the weight of
the bee, yet it can only drag weight tif-
teen times greater than its own ;
whilst the bee easily draws twen-
ty-three or twenty-four times its own
bulk In flying, it can raise weight very
little inferior to its. own whilst the drone
can only transport N this manner half its
own weight. The law in question appears
also to apply not only to the species
which belong to the same chronological
subdivision, but in certain measure to
the entire-class of insects. 1t is true that
If the species examined are arranged by
the increasing order of their weight the
corresponding relations which express
their relative force are not always exactly
progressive. There are exceptions, which
may be explained by the difference of
structure. The law holds good if they
are divided into three groups, comprising,
respectively, the lightest insects, those of
a middle size, and the heaviest. In this
way the relative force is represented for
the first group by twenty-siX; for the sec
nd,sby nineteen; for the last, by nine
This relates only to the power of traction !;
if that in flying be taken into considera-
ton, the lightest can far surpass the heavi-
est-the first being equal to one and one
third; the last is but One-kalf. The strong
est insects appear to be those so familiar
to the naturalist which live on lilies and
roses, such as the Cri0ceres and Trichies.
These little beings can draw a weight
about forty times superior to their own,
and one, an athlete of the tribe, drew
sixtySeven times its own weight. A small
beetle OF the tribe GRODlGLe has executed
the same feat
Another more remarkable fact is related
of horn-beetle, which held between its
mandibles, alternately raising and lower
ing It's head and breast, a rod of thirty
CenLlmetres long, weighing tOur hundred
grammes; its own weight was but two
grammes. AT the side of this insect what
are the acrobats who can carry table be-
tween their teeth Such examples show
to what an extent insects are superior to
the larger animals in the strength of their
muscles. Dry and nervous, they can, in
proportion to themselves, move noun.
tains. In addition to this, they are in
genious; when an obstacle does not Weld
to them, they know how to turn it aside.
One day, in garden, small wasp was
trying to raise caterpillar, which it had
just killed, The caterpillar was at least
five or six times heavier than its conquer.
or, which could not gain its end. Six
times successfully, ,wearied of the war, aAd
despairing of su ccess, it abandoned its
prey and sadly placed itself at some dis
tance. AT last a bright idea saved it from
It's embarrassment; it returned, placed it
sell across the caterpillar as if ON horse
back; with its two middle feet it embraced
the body of its victim, raised it against its
breast, and managed to walk on the four
feet which were at liberty thus it soon
crossed walk of six feet wide, and laid
its prey against a wall.
Investigations have been made regard
ing the jumping insects of the order Or
thoptera--the weight which crickets and
grasshoppers can raise when jumping
To prevent them using their wings, M
Plateau tied them and the elytra or outer
sheaths with thread. The burden was
ball of wax ballasted with morsels Of
lead, which was hung to thread tieG
round the thOraX; as much lead was add