Bombardier beetles are ground beetles (Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini—more than 500 species altogether—which are most notable for the defense mechanism that gives them their name: when disturbed, they eject a hot noxious chemical spray from the tip of the abdomen with a popping sound.
The spray is produced from a reaction between two hypergolic chemical compounds, hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide, which are stored in two reservoirs in the beetle's abdomen. When the aqueous solution of hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide reaches the "vestibule" (Eisner's word), catalysts facilitate the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide and the oxidation of the hydroquinone.[1] Heat from the reaction brings the mixture to near the boiling point of water and produces gas that drives the ejection. The damage caused can be fatal to attacking insects. Some bombardier beetles can direct the spray in a wide range of directions.
The beetle's unusual defense mechanism is claimed by some creationists to be an example of what they call irreducible complexity,[2] though this is refuted by evolutionary biologists.[3]
^Cite error: The named reference Anesh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference rice was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Isaak2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Bombardierbeetles are ground beetles (Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini—more than 500 species altogether—which are...
Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan and Eddie Albert Bombardierbeetle, insect of family Carabidae Bombardier Bitter, a beer brewed by Marston's in England This...
ground beetles, and produce noxious or even caustic secretions used to deter would-be predators. In some, commonly known as bombardierbeetles, these...
kimaniae, colloquially known as the Asian bombardierbeetle (miidera beetle in Japan) is a species of ground beetle from Japan, North and South Korea, and...
False bombardierbeetle, is a species of beetle occurring in the eastern United States. Its mimicry of the colors and shape of a bombardierbeetle help...
Ant nest beetles (subfamily Paussinae) or paussines, some members of which are known also as flanged bombardierbeetles, are a large subfamily within the...
"The bombardierbeetle and its chemical explosion". Angewandte Chemie. 73: 1–7. doi:10.1002/ange.19610730102. Weber CG (Winter 1981). "The Bombardier Beetle...
"Creation vs Evolution: The BombardierBeetle Challenge". 8 February 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2023. "The BombardierBeetle Myth Exploded". Retrieved 23...
the abdomen. African carabid beetles (for example, Anthia) employ the same chemicals as ants: formic acid. Bombardierbeetles have well-developed pygidial...
Nearctic bombardierbeetles (Carabidae, Brachininae, Brachinus (Neobrachinus)). ZooKeys, 1131, 155. Erwin, T. L. (1969). A reclassification of bombardier beetles...
occurs in most fungi. One unique use of catalase occurs in the bombardierbeetle. This beetle has two sets of liquids that are stored separately in two paired...
Brachinus fumans, the American bombardierbeetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. "Brachinus fumans...
China and Japan include the bombardierbeetle Stenaptinus jessoensis, whereas in South America, they include the bombardierbeetle Pheropsophus aequinoctialis...
is probably related to the BombardierBeetle who is able to produce secretions of over 200 degrees F. Like with the beetle, Newt's ability only offers...
Galerita lecontei, the false bombardierbeetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America...
known beetle that has a venomous sting (as opposed to spraying toxins like bombardierbeetles or secreting toxins from the body like blister beetles) and...
Platyrhopalopsis melleii is a species of ant-nest or flanged bombardierbeetle found in southern India. They live inside the nests of ants of the genus...
Brachinus cyanochroaticus, the bombardierbeetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. "Brachinus cyanochroaticus...
Eustra shanghaiensis, is a species of flanged bombardierbeetle belonging to the family Carabidae. It is endemic to China. Body length is 3.06–3.17 mm...
take off using an auxiliary chemical rocket similar to that used by bombardierbeetles. It would periodically transmit details of its journey when it could...
"Acoustic Concomitants of the Defensive Discharges of a Primitive Bombardierbeetle (Metrius contractus)," Chemoecology 11(4): 221–223. Pain, Stephanie...
W. & Meinwald, J. (2000a). "Spray mechanism of the most primitive bombardierbeetle (Metrius contractus)". Journal of Experimental Biology 203, 1265–1275...
ground beetle native to the Nearctic, Palearctic, the Near East and North Africa. Beetles in this genus are commonly referred to as bombardierbeetles. The...
Global Information
