Giant Bugs a Thing of the Past, Study Suggests

National Geographic News ^ | NOVEMBER 21, 2007 | Hope Hamashige

[ricks_place]

For the giant insects that roamed Earth 300 million years ago, there was something special in the air.

A higher concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere let dragonflies sometimes grow to the size of hawks, and some millipede-like bugs reached some six feet (two meters) in length, a new study suggests. (Related: "Dragonflies Migrate Like Birds, Study Says" [May 10, 2006].)

Now that the proportion of oxygen has decreased, however, bugs can't grow much larger than they do now, the authors write.

The reason: The bigger an insect, the bigger the proportion of its body devoted to its tracheal system, which functions like a lung but is far less efficient at large sizes.

"[The tracheal system] explains why they are small," said study co-author Jon Harrison, a professor of environmental physiology at Arizona State University. "It takes up all the room."

The study appears this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[ricks_place]

Massive Greenhouse Gas Impication
Higher Carbon Dioxide levels will likely shrink the size of insects. The decrease in insect vitality will lead to healthier plants producing greater levels of Oxygen. The world should see higher agricultural yields while requiring reduced levels of pesticides. - From The Unexplored Upside of Global Warming!

[null and void]

Carbon dioxide is an essential plant nutrient...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its also essential to Algore’s bogus philosophy.

[null and void]

ping

[Clintons Are White Trash]

They’ve obviously never been to Florida - I don’t care what they call them, they are giant cockroaches!!!!

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

My sister was carried off by one, just last night..huge, oh well, more pumpkin pie for me..

[aberaussie]

Just imagine if this information is true and higher levels of oxygen would lead to bigger bugs - 1 to 2 foot long cockroaches! ewww!

[calex59]

A higher concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere let dragonflies sometimes grow to the size of hawks, and some millipede-like bugs reached some six feet (two meters) in length, a new study suggests. (Related: "Dragonflies Migrate Like Birds, Study Says" [May 10, 2006].)

Actually the largest of the pre-historic insects was the sea scorpion which reached about eight feet in length. Quite a terrible thing to see I would thing but a six foot dragon fly wouldn't make me jump for joy either!

[rod1]

Texas cockroaches, Malasian beetles and Madagascar insects are pretty immpressive in size.

[Danae]

"Its also essential to Algore’s bogus philosophy"

Not to mention his Income, he will make 100 MILLION this year, all due to telling Lies. WOOT for the Veep of Liars! He really DID fit in with the Clintoons.

[Cvengr]

My sister was once bitten by a moose...

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Just imagine if this information is true and higher levels of oxygen would lead to bigger bugs***

Wouldn’t this make for more wild fires as a highter oxygen concentration means things that would normally not sustain flame will now. Maybe the bugs all burned up!

[BipolarBob]

How does excess oxygen in the air affect carbon-14 readings? hmmm . . .

[Rider on the Rain]

I saw one rape a sparrow the other day.

[Popman]

So if higher levels of O2 lets bugs grow larger, since bugs have a relative short reproduction cycle how hard would it be to see it this theory is actually true.

[BenLurkin]

[steve8714]

“Make me a sergeant and bring me the beer”.

[FReepapalooza]

“Them” ?

[BenLurkin]

"Ants at the Donut Shop, Bob."

[Biggirl]

Are they that big in FL? Living in CT all my life, the bugs are really small at best.