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Bombardier Beetle

Photo by Jordan Reed
Published on Project Noah
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36.603, -83.6087

Field Notes

Notes:

I found this under a rock around a bunch of roly-poly bugs. When disturbed it would spray a small plum of white/grayish smoke. It did this a few times and then seemed to be out of "spray" I've never seen anything like this around the area.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
jefflebold
When I saw your post I thought Wow!, these insects just keep getting more and more amazing as I learn about them. Spewing hot chemical smokey stuff. It's right out of a science fiction movie. But real! I learned a lot about the Bombardier beetle after learning that they even existed via your post. Thanks again for posting it. Amazing!
Jordan Reed
@jefflebold I do feel lucky to have seen one of these. Amazing defense mechanism these guys have! Thanks for helping me identify!
jefflebold
I think it is a Bombardier beetle. Maybe Brachinus sp. I have never heard about such a defense mechanism of a beetle spraying a plum of smoke. I am just reading about them now and it seems to be a hot chemical that they spew. Very interesting. You are lucky to see such a thing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 2, 2017

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