Bombardier Beetles: Talented Artillerymen
Bombardier bugs are known for their artillery abilities - they shoot back from enemies, not run from them. These qualities help them defend themselves against enemies. Scientists have long been studying the unusual mechanism of insect shooting.
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What does the scorer beetle look like: photo
Description of the beetle
Name: Bombardier
Latin: BrachinusClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Coleoptera - Coleoptera
Family: Ground beetles - Carabidae
 | Habitats: | fields, plains and foothills |
 | Dangerous for: | small insects |
 | Means of destruction: | safe, do not harm people |
Bombardier is not one particular beetle, but members of the ground beetle family. Not all individuals have been studied, the Paussin subfamily is practically unknown to people and is a subject of interest.
The size of the beetle varies from 5 to 15 mm. The body has an elongated oval shape. The color is dark. There is a metallic sheen. Partially the body is painted red-brown.
Beetle scorer in attack.
At the end of the head there are sickle-shaped mandibles with which they hold and tear their prey. Eyes of medium size are designed for a gloomy lifestyle. There are supraorbital setae on the eyes. Whiskers and paws are dark red. Running type limbs.
Elytra can be blue, green or black with longitudinal shallow grooves. Beetles use limbs more than wings. Female and male individuals are similar to each other. The limbs of males are equipped with additional segments.
Habitat and distribution
The most common type of scorer beetle is the crackling beetle. Habitat - Europe and Asia. They prefer dry flat places and moderately moist soil.
On the territory of the Russian Federation, they are found everywhere, from the territory of Siberia to Lake Baikal. But there are individuals in the mountains, not only on flat areas.
Life cycle
Bombardiers are only active at night. During the day they hide in shelters. Only young individuals fly, which need to master the territory. In winter, they go into diapause, when all metabolic processes slow down and almost stop.
The same diapause can also occur in the scorer beetle in hot summers during drought.
After a week, the larva becomes like a caterpillar. The pupation stage lasts 10 days. The entire development cycle is 24 days. Beetles living in cool regions are able to give no more than one offspring during the year. Scorers in hot climatic zones produce a second offspring in autumn. The life cycle of females is a maximum of a year, and males - about 3 years.
Scorer beetle diet
Beetles are carnivorous insects. The larvae parasitize and feed on the pupae of other beetles. Adults collect food debris. They are capable of destroying small relatives.
Protecting the scorer beetle from enemies
The method of protection is very original. When enemies approach, the insect sprays a caustic, hot, foul-smelling mixture of gas and liquid.
The abdominal cavity is equipped with two glands - a paired firing device. The chemicals are in the glands. Each gland consists of two compartments. One of the compartments serves as a reservoir for storing hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide, and the second as a reaction chamber with catalases and peroxidases.
When enemies appear, hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide are squeezed into the second gland. Hydrogen peroxide releases oxygen. The pressure in the chamber rises, and the temperature reaches 100 degrees. The beetle is able to shoot from any position.
Drops of the mixture can be small and large. The insect is able to regulate this process. Large drops are designed for short distances, and small drops are designed for long distances.
The maximum number of shots reaches 20. New shots are possible after a break of at least 30 minutes. Hot and poisonous shots kill or drive away predators.
The chemicals are not dangerous to the bombardier beetle, as the explosion does not take place in the body. And this is another subject of study. How competently the reaction and dosage of the mixtures are calculated, that the explosion occurs in such a way that the beetle itself is not harmed.
Interesting facts about scorer beetles
Some facts about the insect:
- firing mechanism and chemical reaction are the basis of technical equipment design. Scientists restart jet engines in a similar way;
- with an untimely reaction, the frog can swallow the scorer. The shot takes place inside the frog. She instantly spits out a live beetle.
Conclusion
Scorer beetles are unique creatures of nature. They don't harm people. By eating pests, they are beneficial in plots and gardens. And their original method of protection against pests is the subject of study and interest of scientists.
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