Rock-solid fungus beetle in the spotlight
Y
ou’ve seen them but undoubtedly paid them no attention. Nobody does. Until now. Beetles in mushrooms.
Te ubiquitous Ironclad Beetle, a common denizen of mushrooms—especially polypores—is now the focus of scientific research. In reporting the story, Science News likened this beetle to a tiny tank on six legs. Te insect’s rugged exoskeleton is so tough that it can survive being stepped on (I’ve tested this several times!) and even run over by cars; its would-be predators don’t stand a chance of cracking one open because Phloeodes diabolicus is basically nature’s jawbreaker. What accounts for this beetle’s incredible resilience? Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, recently published their findings in the British journal Nature. Analyses of microscope images, 3D printed models, and computer simulations of the beetle’s armor reveal tightly interlocked and impact-absorbing structures that connect pieces of the beetle’s exoskeleton. And why is this important you may ask? Well, those very same features could inspire new, sturdier designs for things such as body armor, buildings, bridges, and vehicles. In compression experiments, the materials scientists found that the beetle could withstand around 39,000 times its own body weight. Tat would be like a person shouldering a stack of about 40 M1 Abrams battle tanks! Key microscopic features help it withstand crushing forces. Examining beetle slices under the microscope reveals a series of connections between the top and bottom halves of the exoskeleton; these jigsaw-shaped links connect the left and right sides of its exoskeleton. Tose ridged connections have different shapes
across the beetle’s body—near the front of the beetle, around its vital organs, the ridges are highly interconnected, almost like zipper teeth. Tese connections are stiff and resist bending under pressure. Te connective ridges near the back of the beetle, on the other hand, are not as intricately interlocked, allowing the top and bottom halves of the exoskeleton to slide past each other slightly. Tat flexibility helps the beetle absorb compression in a region of its body that is safer to squish.
Paul Stamets makes big donation to a great cause
T
he University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) has established a new scholarship funded by a generous gift from Paul Stamets,
D.Sc., an internationally known mycologist, advocate of the medical benefits of mushrooms, and Contributing Editor of FUNGI. Te Paul Stamets Scholarship will advance integrative medicine by encouraging ties between those with experience in modern biomedicine and local and indigenous communities. It is open to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others accepted to the AWCIM Fellowship in Integrative Medicine who demonstrate interest in serving indigenous and underserved communities. Stamets said that it was an honor for him to contribute and that “these funds will help train more physicians in integrative medicine—the way of the future that will improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs. I look forward to continuing to support this important program and seeing it flourish.” Te Fellowship in Integrative Medicine is a 1,000-hour, two-year distance learning program. In addition to online training, fellows participate in three week-
Paul Stamets and Andy Weil with reishi kits.
Fall 2021 FUNGI Volume 14:4 11
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