Battling Bugs Help Solve Mysteries of Weapon Evolution
Scientists at the University of Arizona outfitted bugs with body armor and pitted them against each other in staged wrestling matches, all in the name of science. The findings shed light on how evolution has shaped the arsenal of weapons in the animal kingdom.
By Daniel Stolte,
University Communications
Feb. 3, 2021
To study the damage inflicted during wrestling matches between male giant mesquite bugs (Thasus neocalifornicus), the researchers outfitted some of them with body armor consisting of patches of faux leather glued onto their backs. Each bug also was given a number to keep track of the outcomes. Here, contestants "140" and "115" are about to duke it out.