Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The most ancient ground beetles

The Bombardier beetle shoots boiling liquid as a defense mechanism

The incredibly complex bombardier beetle has an amazing and unique ability: when threatened it shoots boiling hot chemicals from its abdomen up to 70 times rapidly. The liquid is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones which join together inside the beetle causing a chemical reaction.

 The liquid is fatal to small insects and creatures and can be very painful to humans.

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