Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: a biological pulse jet.
The defensive spray of the bombardier beetle Stenaptinus insignis is ejected in quick pulses (at about 500 pulses per second) rather than as a continuous stream. The pulsation may be a consequence of intermittency in the explosive chemical process that generates the spray. The ejection system of the beetle shows basic similarity to the pulse jet propulsion mechanism of the German V-1 "buzz" bomb of World War II.
Dean
J
J
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Aneshansley
D J
DJ
Edgerton
H E
HE
Eisner
T
T
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors