title: Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: a biological pulse jet.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aneshansley
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Edgerton
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eisner
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors