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Australian Wildlife

  Bombardier Beetle (Pheropsophus verticalis)





Bombardier Beetle | Pheropsophus verticalis photo
Australian Bombardier Beetle (Pheropsophus verticalis)

Image by Peter Halasz - Some rights reserved.    (view image details)







BOMBARDIER BEETLE FACTS

Identification
The Bombardier Beetle is a black and brown ground beetle belonging to the Carabidae family. The wing covers are mostly black, each having a large brown patch in the middle. When threatened, it can create an explosion from its rear end. It has a special gland which mixes two chemicals together causing an explosive chemical reaction which expels a spray of boiling steam and chemicals with aloud pop. Temperatures reach over 100C in the gland, and it can produce 20 explosions in a minute.

Size
length 12mm - 18mm

Habitat
Undisturbed riverbanks and river floodplains

Food
Bombardier Beetles feed on other insects

Range
eastern Australia



Classification
Class:Insecta
Order:Coleoptera
Family:Carabidae
Genus:Pheropsophus
Species:verticalis
Common Name:Bombardier Beetle