harryallard:fuckyeahbeetles: Elephant Beetle (Megasoma elephas)
The elephant beetle is a large (7-12cm) member of the Scarabaeidae (scarab) family. A coat of fine microscopic hairs that grow on its body give the beetle its distinctive brown appearance.
These insects appeared in the news in 2009 after researchers at the University of California, Berkley managed to manipulate the beetle’s flying ability through ‘remote control’ use. Huge advances in nanotechnology enabled researchers to implant electrodes into the beetle’s body at its pupal stage, and once the beetle reached adulthood, the electrodes were triggered to initiate movement in certain muscles, thus allowing the researchers to control its direction.
The project is being developed for potential military use.
(See full article here)
If any of you ever get the chance to touch any of the Megasoma species, make sure you feel those fuzzy elytra. They feel so nice!
