The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-10
gu6 maj CUTS METAL.
ke Powerful Jsws Of Central
America Beetle.
Ieohsus Pewter withsst ssxiekisE'
he aandfbIss-A wesderfaI
Jnse<f.


~ one 81 the recent meetings OF the
IoW York Nicroscopicai Society At
~ roons ~ the society, 81 Madison
nxenue, paper read By Mr.. Z. "
Devoe. mon tie . u akeche, or metal
cutting beetIe OF Central America, was
listened 10 With great interest BY the
4 1nerubeyr Of the society. Since then
- paper hiss excited considerable
I comnnent among scientists and people
3nterested IN entomology. The Sra
herswffh reprints Mr.. Dsvoe's article
= Inn from the journal Of the New
York NicToscopicai Society.
ssThc beetle 70 which your attention
II directed, sid NJ. Deyoe = Zo-
1879 ukx;camus, Sol, q native OF Cen
1knj America. where u - popularity
known s. tMakeche. Specimens av-
eeaSs II length from ~ 70 3 centi-
unefefa. The fhorax and elytra are
= costing Of scales, which may be
nor1nai Hack color will appear. The
s51erII surface Ii marked by many
fe1,lls arranged In lines, and more
! ul5o,niuenf In the middle than al the
ff1es. The general color Of the under
1ueface and Of the legs Is black, bs.
CHA Is more or less concealed IN uu-
2orous places By the yeliowfsh scales
bofcfe mentioned.
exce into The pro-thofax. The anten-
- fwo a. three points being connase.
- Az.
fwo deep grooves on the under surface
q tie pfo-thorax.
ssThf character Is indicated by tie
6tructure. A slow, deliberate walker,
e never flies, for iEs hind wings are
ut developed. and Il never hurries.
16vox of darkness, it dwells In the
woods hidden under the bark OF
f1oog, hi canes, or In chips left by the
d-cutter. Strong jawed, it goes It's
lhfneh has been said regarding the
D1F6n4th Of insects, and especially OF
: fco4teB. II has been asserted thai
1bey have made their way through
1heet lead (kfyiofyspexl, and even
through iron plates. Fortunately, |
] heye been able to watch this beetle
Nbi1e engaged as q Iuetal-worker, and
- loaFn It's powers.
NJ first specimen was from Yuea-
I'M presented 70 me last summer by
1f15id from Mexico. II was contained
~ cardboard box. which | enclosed
n my desk over night. The next
1eofning | found the creature had
&otou 3 large hole in the side OF the
box, and Was enjoying its liberty with
: commingling OF elaboration
md satisfaction. Having recap
tured 1t | placed Il In a
mall glass jar, TO which
lited Z cover Of wood, after boring y
m holes In the latter for ventilation.
III next day found on the bottom
q fhe far numbers OF chips Of the
Tick walnut wood Of the cover
Zen substituted the metal cover which
telonsed 70 the jar. after punching
lAsough the metal several holes about
foe-eighths Of an inch in diameter,
ord supplied the captive with some
About one week after this | left
home for day, and when | returned
found that the beetle had cut out ia
email bits all the metal between two
koles in the cover, and through this
oolafKement had thrust out its pro-
borax In such manner az 10 give evil
dence that II left alone il would soon
toRain it, liberty. This work upon
the metal was all done withia the
SPACE OF forty-eight hours. Upon ex-
animation the cutting edges OF the
mnndibles appeared TO be unbroken
and In perfect condition. About three
Weeks alter this time the beetle died.
Several attempts were made during
Tho winter to secure some more living
beetles Of the same species. But they
III died before reaching New York
About month since, however, had
the good fortune to receive two lively
specimens. These we're placed In glass
3ars like that Just mentioned, fitted
With their respective metal covers.
zone Of these beetierI exhibit here
alive tonight. This one has accom-
Wished metal working precisely like
thet Of the first specimen, and l have
had no little satisfaction in watching
the process, and in listening 20 the
sound caused by the mandlhies while
cutting the chips from the cover. bur
ing this operation the beetle passed
1he feet through the ventilating
holes. ana hung suspended, back
downward. from the under sur
face OF the cover. This metal Il
pewter. probably composed OF three
Inrts OF lead and one part OF tin, and Is
about one-thirty Of an inch in
thickness. Under experiment 1t was
found that force of sac grammes was
necessary to remove chips CORE
spending 10 those cut by the beetle.
Your attention is called 10 the fact
that the cutting edges OF the mandl-
bles Of the dead beetle are in good con.
dition while those OF the live beetle are
broken. Both insects did the same
kind Of work, under the same eircum.
stances but am unable 20 account
for the different effects upon the tools
emnluyed.n
These beetles live loeg time with
out food or water. The second beetle
did the cutting in February last, after
which II was placed in Il clean, dry,
earthen dish. where il has remained
ever since. without ANY food. 1t is
now alive and IN good health. / will
be gratifled 10 learn from any person
4 they have ever seen any insect that
has bitten OF any chip Of metal. I"
wITCHERiEs or THE TOILET.