Cockroaches Boost Their Biting Power with Twitch Muscle Fibers
A new study in the United Kingdom has discovered that cockroaches make use of the muscle fibers of their mandibles in order to generate a biting force of up to 50 times stronger than their body weight.
Researchers believe that this study is a crucial step in studying cockroaches ecological and behavioral processes. This step can also help fellow scientists develop inspiring engineering.
Insects, such as cockroaches use a different set of mouthparts to bite. “Their mouths consist of a pair of powerful, bladelike jaws known as mandibles, which they also use to dig holes, feed their offspring and defend themselves against attacker,” according to Tech Times.
Cockroaches aren’t the only insects with powerful jaws however. Insects such as the leafcutter ant and the titan beetle also have very powerful jaws.
Despite the small size of the leafcutter ant, it has proven itself to be one of the strongest creatures on Earth. These insects are able to life objects of up to 50 times its own body weight (500 milligrams). This strength is the equivalent to a grown man carrying a full size truck with his teeth.
The titan beetle is capable of snapping tree braches in half and even able to cut through flesh. Although these beetles are not known for attacking other creates, unless provoked, there should be handled with care because they are able to cause serious injury to people.
Have you ever been a witness to one of these insects’ powerful mandible bites?
