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:
- These remarkable beetles grow to almost 2 cm long. They are black with yellow spots.
- 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.
- Australian bombardier beetles are predators themselves, using their powerful jaws to catch and eat other insects.
- Like other beetles, once they reach adulthood, they only live for a few weeks, giving them just enough time to breed.
- 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?
