r/whatisit • u/Cultural_Fall_3255 • 4h ago

New, what is it? What is this thing.

11.1k Upvotes

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455

u/Electronic_System839 4h ago

Dude, like how do you get rid of it without getting bit? It will 100% have a vendetta for you. It's so mad that it's wheezing like a pug lol.

99

u/zorbinthorium 4h ago

That wheezing noise is called stridulating, when body parts are rubbed together to make a noise

45

u/whyisitallsotoxic 4h ago

Since those are just his plates rubbing together, if you oiled him up like a suit of armor, would he then not be able to produce that noise?

41

u/zorbinthorium 4h ago

Theoretically I would think so. Probably wouldn't be great for the insect since they breathe passively through holes in their exoskeleton and I'd imagine most lubricants would not agree with their insides

45

u/Xentonian 3h ago

Drowning a beetle in WD40 so it is less squeaky is not the concept I thought I would read today.

3

u/Lone-raver 2h ago

Yeah that’s be fucked up. Idk how I became this guy but o constantly get mocked for my unwillingness to kill spiders and bugs. I sorta annoying.

1

u/femmefatalx 32m ago

I really don’t like bugs and spiders but I refuse to kill them too. I used to not care, but the older I get the more I feel that I don’t have any right to end their lives and feel really bad if someone else’s does or there’s no other option.

1

u/panda_sauce 1h ago

Starship Troopers would have had it so much easier if they just went around spraying lubricant.

-1

u/Sigihil 2h ago

I actually have a video saved to my phone where a dude does exactly that with a cricket

1

u/Pristine-Setting-836 1h ago

Ive seen that too and poor lil dude looked like he was freakin tf out😭

16

u/Kermit_the_hog 4h ago

Yeah that would clog his little spiracles!

8

u/HendrixHazeWays 3h ago

"This clogs the crab"

3

u/ExhibitBCT 3h ago

Some oils are used for insect control specifically because of those holes (spiracles) because they clog the holes and suffocate them

1

u/IKnowYouAreButWhtAmI 1h ago

People oiled their suits of armor?

2

u/Saikotsu 2h ago

Interesting. I was wondering how it was making that cool noise. Such a neat creature.

1

u/zorbinthorium 46m ago

Yep, it's the sound of the plates on its neck, to be specific. That's why it's synced with its head bobbing. Exactly like a squeaky hinge

1

u/Nice-Traffic4485 3h ago

Is the noise intentional, or a biproduct? Like, do these beetles use that noise for communication?

1

u/zorbinthorium 49m ago

Started off as a natural byproduct and evolved overtime into something that can be used with intention as a means of communicating

Crickets chirping is the same mechanism, just a different part of their body

1

u/Dr_Malignant 2h ago

does it stridulate when it wants to kill

1

u/karenskygreen 1h ago

Thats goodnto know my rubbing body parts together is strindulating. What about when you rub your body part with someone elses body part ?.whats that sound called ?