A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
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.
Spotted on Feb 1, 2017
Submitted on Feb 2, 2017
4 Comments
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!
@jefflebold I do feel lucky to have seen one of these. Amazing defense mechanism these guys have! Thanks for helping me identify!
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...
Is this a Bombardier beetle?