Science Visualized Life

Male stag beetles face weighty problem for flight

Insects’ giant jaws are as much of a nuisance as they look

computer simulation of flying male beetle

SO NOT STREAMLINED  In a computer simulation, air slams into the front of a flying male Cyclommatus metallifer and pulls at his back. 

J. Goyens et al/Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2015

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

GIANT JAWS A male Cyclommatus metallifer has among the largest mandibles of any beetle species.