Despite their small size, insects are really strong. Their physical strength is impressive – they can carry objects far heavier than themselves.
The walking legs of a stick insect
The swimming legs of a backswimmer
Beetles are often incredibly strong. For example, dung beetles can carry one thousand times their own body weight. That is like a human moving a lorry. The scarab beetle is also quite the powerhouse, effortlessly rolling balls of dung weighing 50 times as much as its own body over large distances.
The larvae of a whole range of insects have jaws so strong that they can even bite through wood. These include, for example, the larvae of the house longhorn beetle and the Ptinidae family, also known as woodworm. Termites are also capable of chewing wood with their powerful jaws.
Ants are some of the strongest insects too, with individuals being able to carry 50 times their own body weight. Working as a team, they can transport even more! Their incredible strength and teamwork enable them to gather vast food reserves and sustain their colonies.
