vayda on Nostr: 🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨 There are hundreds of species of bombardier beetles ...
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
There are hundreds of species of bombardier beetles living around the world, found on every continent except Antarctica. They are small ground beetles (Carabidae) that can typically be found in leaf litter and under stones in woodlands and grasslands.
Chemical defence mechanisms vary among bombardier beetle species. Some emit chemicals subtly, such as the foamy secretion of Metrius contractus that clings to the beetle's body as it is released from the abdomen. If attacked from the front, it can move the foam towards its head along tracks on its hardened outer wings (elytra).
But the best-known bombardier beetles are those that deploy explosions to defend themselves. With an audible pop, these beetles spray a concoction of boiling, irritating chemicals at predators that get too close. The beetles have plenty of ammo and can rapidly fire their chemicals over and over again.
The beetle will only mix the two chemicals at the exact moment it needs to defend itself, and the mixture is almost instantaneously ejected with force out of the tip of the abdomen. The tough reaction chamber at the rear end of the beetle protects the rest of the insect's internal organs from taking damage.
There are hundreds of species of bombardier beetles living around the world, found on every continent except Antarctica. They are small ground beetles (Carabidae) that can typically be found in leaf litter and under stones in woodlands and grasslands.
Chemical defence mechanisms vary among bombardier beetle species. Some emit chemicals subtly, such as the foamy secretion of Metrius contractus that clings to the beetle's body as it is released from the abdomen. If attacked from the front, it can move the foam towards its head along tracks on its hardened outer wings (elytra).
But the best-known bombardier beetles are those that deploy explosions to defend themselves. With an audible pop, these beetles spray a concoction of boiling, irritating chemicals at predators that get too close. The beetles have plenty of ammo and can rapidly fire their chemicals over and over again.
The beetle will only mix the two chemicals at the exact moment it needs to defend itself, and the mixture is almost instantaneously ejected with force out of the tip of the abdomen. The tough reaction chamber at the rear end of the beetle protects the rest of the insect's internal organs from taking damage.