Look out, it’s an Australian bombardier beetle!

Beetles make up about 25% of all animal species, with approximately 400,000 different kinds identified by scientists and more being discovered all the time.  Today I want to write about a cool looking beetle that you don’t want to mess with, the Australian bombardier beetle.

Here are five interesting facts about them:

1. These remarkable beetles grow to almost 2 cm long.  They are black with yellow spots.
2. They get their name from their amazing ability to mix chemicals in a chamber near their bum, which they then spray at potential predators, making a loud pop as they shoot.  This chemical causes burning and has a very offensive smell which can kill insects and be painful for people.
3. Australian bombardier beetles are predators themselves, using their powerful jaws to catch and eat other insects.
4. Like other beetles, once they reach adulthood, they only live for a few weeks, giving them just enough time to breed.
5. Australian bombardier beetles are found on the east coast of Australia.

I hope that you found these facts interesting and learned something new.

Are there any other interesting facts that you would like to share about Australian bombardier beetles?