Bombardier Beetle

insects · defense · chemistry

Explosive defense system. When a bombardier beetle is threatened, it shoots a hot, smelly chemical spray from special glands near its rear end with a loud popping sound that startles predators.

Dangerously hot spray. The chemicals the beetle sprays get so hot they can actually burn predators' mouths and eyes, which is why most animals learn to leave bombardier beetles alone.

500 different species. There are more than 500 different kinds of bombardier beetles found all over the world, and they all have this same amazing trick.

Ground beetle family. Bombardier beetles belong to a big family called ground beetles, which are some of nature's fiercest hunters and usually live in dirt and under rocks.

Built-in chemistry lab. The beetle's body mixes two safe chemicals together to create the hot, stinky spray right when it needs to, like nature's own mini chemistry experiment.