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Article: Attack of the monster insects: find out why science-fiction sized insects one roamed earth. Then discover the secrets of the biggest ones alive today!(life science)
- Article from:
- SuperScience
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
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If a little spider skittering along the wall makes you squirm, imagine spotting a human-sized millipede scurrying across the floor. Millions of years ago, such a sight would have been common. Cockroach-like insects grew to be 0.6 meters (2 feet) long and dragonflies with 0.8 m (2.5 ft)-wingspans flew through the air.
Most insects today are itsy bitsy compared to those that once roamed the planet. Even the largest ones--such as the giant stick insect--reach only about 0.3 meters (1 foot) in length (see pages 8-9). What prevents today's invertebrates from becoming super-size like they were in the past? A group of scientists recently ...