Question

I am curious to know if insect muscles become stronger with exercise, because I have seen many insects get tired out, but I have never seen one get stronger. They always seem to become permanently weakened from excessive exercise. Do they get stronger like people do?

Answer 1

There are instances of insect muscle growth in response to increased use. The flight muscles of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans) have been observed to grow at a faster rate when subjected to enforced exercise (Anderson and Finlayson, 1976). Also larger mandibular adductor muscles (which power the feeding apparatus), and associated head capsule have been noted for caterpillars and grasshoppers feeding on particularly hard grasses (Bernays, 1986). However these examples occur immediately post-eclosion (i.e. after emergence as adults), and during immature stages respectively. Insect muscle typically grows during larval/nymphal (immature) stages, and often for a brief period at the start of adulthood - known as the teneral period. During immature stages, insects typically have a flexible membrane to allow for tissue growth and expansion, this can also be the case during the teneral period, before the inflexible exoskeleton has fully hardened. However at full maturity, insect growth is limited by the rigidity of their exoskeleton.

As far as excessive exercise is concerned, that some insects may be weakened permanently may be more to do with the fact that their life strategy is different to ours. Due to the vast number of offspring per adult, and subsequent low survival chance of any given individual, there could be an evolutionary advantage for individuals pushing themselves to possibly deadly extremes. This could lead to many deaths, whilst retaining a viable population and thus accelerate the emergence of a population of fitter individuals.

Answer 2

Yes, insect muscles become stronger with exercise but less evident in growth of the body muscle. Due to their small size, no. of muscles, exoskeleton etc, the growth of the muscles are negligible. In some flying insects, with continous exercise, wing muscles may grow in faster rate.

In addition, when the insects with mandibles are enfored to do eating exercise, there will be a considerable growth in mandibular adductor muscles.

Furthermore, most of the insects are composed of chitinous body layer, even if there is excessive exercise, the body layer cannot allow the growth. Thus, the insects seems to be weak. Chitinous skin does not allow instantaneous growth because of their hard nature. So, the insects cannot get stronger like people with excercise.