this was a :
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 their abdomen with a popping sound.
The spray is produced from a reaction between two 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, 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 over a wide range of directions.
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