Comments on: The History of Insects http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/ An Entomologist's Blog Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:22:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: James http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-3940 James Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:06:42 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-3940 Another interesting theory about beetle-evolution: http://www.coleop-terra.com/evolution.html Another interesting theory about beetle-evolution:

http://www.coleop-terra.com/evolution.html

]]> By: David http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-192 David Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:47:53 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-192 A late comment but still. There's another propesed reason why such large insects would not survive today, gravity. I won't go into depth as how gravity will disable a big bug, there are some real good scientific papers on the how and why. The main problem with this find is we don't have a reason or explanation as to how and why gravity would be higher now then back then. A lot of scientist do not believe such a big insect would be able to flutter it's wings today or even expand it's abdomen to ventilate it's tracheal tubes for oxygen. It's a theory and it's been published in some well know scientific journals. Another large crowd of scientist dismiss this out of hand though. sticking to gravity is constant, and simply not liking the idea because it raises a lot more questions then it gives answers. Some very controversial "researchers" use this to "verify" their growing earth (as opposed to continental drift) idea. I'm not siding with any idea on this.. I just thought I'd put it down here for more knowledgable people to ponder about and completeness sake ;) A late comment but still.

There’s another propesed reason why such large insects would not survive today, gravity.

I won’t go into depth as how gravity will disable a big bug, there are some real good scientific papers on the how and why.

The main problem with this find is we don’t have a reason or explanation as to how and why gravity would be higher now then back then.

A lot of scientist do not believe such a big insect would be able to flutter it’s wings today or even expand it’s abdomen to ventilate it’s tracheal tubes for oxygen.

It’s a theory and it’s been published in some well know scientific journals.
Another large crowd of scientist dismiss this out of hand though. sticking to gravity is constant, and simply not liking the idea because it raises a lot more questions then it gives answers.

Some very controversial “researchers” use this to “verify” their growing earth (as opposed to continental drift) idea.

I’m not siding with any idea on this.. I just thought I’d put it down here for more knowledgable people to ponder about and completeness sake ;)

]]> By: Joshua S. Rose http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-13 Joshua S. Rose Fri, 22 Sep 2006 01:21:15 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-13 I have heard the oxygen theory. It goes: insects' circulatory and respiratory systems are much less efficient than those of mammals, involving fewer compartments and tubes and relying much more on diffusion. When the oxygen concentration in Earth's atmosphere fell, the largest insects could not get enough of it to their inner tissues (especially flight muscle) to function, so they died out. Seems like it would be fairly test-able; have not heard the contests to which Kelley refers. I also have heard the infamous "Dr." Carl Baugh use the oxygen concentration issue in some of his theories of how dinosaurs co-existed with humans a few thousand years ago... Cheers, Josh I have heard the oxygen theory. It goes: insects’ circulatory and respiratory systems are much less efficient than those of mammals, involving fewer compartments and tubes and relying much more on diffusion. When the oxygen concentration in Earth’s atmosphere fell, the largest insects could not get enough of it to their inner tissues (especially flight muscle) to function, so they died out. Seems like it would be fairly test-able; have not heard the contests to which Kelley refers. I also have heard the infamous “Dr.” Carl Baugh use the oxygen concentration issue in some of his theories of how dinosaurs co-existed with humans a few thousand years ago…

Cheers,

Josh

]]> By: Jay http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-11 Jay Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:21:05 +0000 http://www.bugsforthugs.com/2006/09/21/the-history-of-insects/#comment-11 <blockquote> Why are insects not that big anymore? ... I honestly haven’t done a whole lot of reading into this area, so if you know more info, do chime in. </blockquote> A total shot in the dark, but bird evolution was just beginning to take off around this time. I would imagine that birds came to dominate the niches of large flighted predators that large insects previously held. There's lots of examples of competition between groups effecting evolution. One of the best is that flightless birds (especially small ones) almost always exist only where small mammals are historically absent. Without that niche getting filled, birds are free to take it. In the same way, I might guess that the appearance and eventual dominance of birds in the skies put an end to the bird-sized dragonflies. Just a thought.

Why are insects not that big anymore? … I honestly haven’t done a whole lot of reading into this area, so if you know more info, do chime in.

A total shot in the dark, but bird evolution was just beginning to take off around this time. I would imagine that birds came to dominate the niches of large flighted predators that large insects previously held.

There’s lots of examples of competition between groups effecting evolution. One of the best is that flightless birds (especially small ones) almost always exist only where small mammals are historically absent. Without that niche getting filled, birds are free to take it.

In the same way, I might guess that the appearance and eventual dominance of birds in the skies put an end to the bird-sized dragonflies.

Just a thought.

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