Why are there no insects the size of a pig?

Question

I read that the largest insect measures 35 cm so i was wondering why they don't grow bigger.

Answer 1

Evolution and the means to survive.

Answer 2

Typically exoskeletons can't support that much mass, however larger insects probably exist on the floors of the ocean where pressure helps maintain their bodies. Giant Squid use water pressure to grow to impossible size in the same way.

We know more about the surface of mars than we do the floors of our deep oceans.

Lobsters aren't insects, but they are large and have exoskeletons.

Insects, which are a type of arthropod, are easily the most numerous organisms on the planet, with about a million species identified so far. The title of heaviest insect in the world has many rivals, the most frequently-crowned of which is the Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus), the top size of which is at least 115 grams (4.1 oz) and 11.5 cm (4.5 inches).

Moths & allies (Lepidoptera). The largest species is probably either the Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), a butterfly, or the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas), a moth. Both of these species can exceed a length of 8 cm (3.2 inches), a wingspan of 28 cm (11 inches) and a weight of 12 grams. Their larvae can weigh up to 58 grams (1.9 oz). However, the White Witch (Thysania agrippina) has the longest recorded wingspan of the order, and indeed of any living insect, at up to at least 30 cm (12 inches). The White Witch is exceeded in surface area and mass by both Ornithoptera and Attacus.

The infamous "Bloop" if it is an insect.

Also one could say an entire ant colony is one living creature.

Answer 3

I really don't know, but I sure am glad... be honestly, I think that is how evolution planned it, the Big Insects were all eaten up by the Bigger flying birds and such, they sort of eat their way down to the size that we as humans can control. I say, Thank you Lord, i don't like "insects"... I'd rather stick with the metamorphosis of the beautiful butterfly. I hope they last my lifetime, and don't die from all the population.

Answer 4

Because of the square-cube law. When something grows, assuming it grows equally in all dimensions, its volume increases faster than its surface area. This has two effects on insects. First, they breathe through their skin. This works well for small creatures, who have a relatively high area of skin compared to the mass they need to supply with oxygen. As the creatures get bigger, they can no longer supply their body with oxygen through the skin.

Second, the strength of the legs increases in proportion to their cross-section, which is a type of surface area. The weight, on the other hand, increases in proportion with volume. So eventually the body gets too heavy for the legs to hold up.

Answer 5

Well if you think about it, the strength the size ratio would be insane. For example, a flea can jump hundreds it's body length. If a flea was the size of a pig, then it would be able to clear a football field!
In addition to insects having very high tolerance to many toxic elements and such with thick shells and such, they would have almost no predators with the ability to take them down.
Plus most have incredibly fast reproduction rates so basically everything in the world would be wiped out.
Just be glad that they are the size they are.

Answer 6

About Animal body size: http://www.geocities.com/ramin1102000/20.html

Question: Why insects have small body size?
Answer: Because they have no blood vessels.

Q: How it’s possible to enlarge an insect?
A: By creating blood vessels in it’s body. (Book 1, Paper 1)
Q: How we can do this work?
A: (book 2)
Q: Have the nature done this work before?
A: Yes, it’s done. (Crustacean)

Q: Why a crocodile is smaller than an elephant?
A: Because the heart of crocodile is 3-chambered and weak, but elephant’s heart is 4-chambered and strong. (Paper 2)

Q: How it’s possible to enlarge the body of a crocodile.
A: By it’s heart 4-chambered and strong. (Book1, Paper 11)
Q: How we can do this work?
A: (book 2)
Q: Have the nature done this work before?
A: Yes, it’s done. (Mammals)

Q: How it’s possible to enlarge an elephant’s body?
A: By creating assistant heart in it’s body. (Book1, Paper 16)
Q: How we can do this work?
A: (book 2)
Q: Have the nature done this work before?
A: No, it’s not, but thinking to do it and have prepared its initial actions. This way a new class of animals will appear.

Q: Why a mouse is smaller than a cat?
A: Because organic phosphates compounded by hemoglobin (such as DPG) in mouse’s blood are is more than cat’s blood. (Book1, Paper 12)

Q: How it’s possible to enlarge mouse’s body as large as cat’s body?
A: By reducing the amount of organic phosphates (such as DPG) in mouse’s blood. (Book1, Paper 12)
Q: How we can do this work?
A: (book 2)
Q: Have the nature done this work before?
A: Yes, it’s done. (Diverse mammals)

A question from my second book:
Book 2: The ABC of Evolution

Q: Is the cell, the establishing unit of our body?

Book1= http://www.geocities.com/ramin1102000/bookpage.html
Book2= http://www.geocities.com/ramin1102000/mybooks.html

Answer 7

I am tempted to say when pigs fly. But the real reason is that they have an exoskeleton and can not support much weight on land or flying. There are some shell fish which are bigger but they have water to support the exoskeleton.

Answer 8

Why are there no pigs the size of insects?

Answer 9

Insects need more oxygen to breath in order to get bigger. A long time ago, they were really big because there were a lot of trees and forests to give them oxygen.

Answer 10

I agree with John B.!
I take it you have never been to Texas. Roaches the size of cats, mosquitoes the size of birds, and cicadas the size of pigs!

Answer 11

Waste of energy. They are powerful enough for their size now!. If they were the size of a pig the human race would probably be extinct.