The hydrogen peroxide decomposes and the hydroquinone reacts to form benzoquinone (C6H4O2). The resultant hydrogen reacts with the oxygen to produce water. where ν is the molar ratio of hydroquinone to hydrogen peroxide.
' The beetle will only mix the two chemicals at the exact moment it needs to defend itself, and the mixture is almost instantaneously ejected with force out of the tip of the abdomen. The tough reaction chamber at the rear end of the beetle protects the rest of the insect's internal organs from taking damage.
This spray is capable of harming humans, resulting in discomfort, physical burns (due to the spray temperature), and possibly contact dermatitis. In rare cases, systemic reactions requiring more urgent medical attention have been reported (Pardal et al. 2016).
Bombardier beetles eject a liquid called benzoquinone, which they superheat and expel in an intense, pulsating jet. The explosive mechanism used by the beetle generates a spray that's much hotter than that of other insects that use the liquid, and propels the jet five times faster.
Cantharidin is a topical treatment used to remove molluscum contagiosum and warts. Cantharidin is a substance derived from the blister beetle Cantharis vesicatoria. Some practitioners refer to this treatment as “beetle juice” –especially when it is used in our pediatric population.
Mechanism of defense
The boiling, foul-smelling liquid is expelled violently through an outlet valve, with a loud popping sound. The beetles' glands store enough hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide to allow the beetle to release its chemical spray roughly 20 times. In some cases this is enough to kill a predator.
Beetles don't attack people, don't suck blood, and don't give people diseases. A few species can bite but do not cause serious injury, such as Longhorn beetles and root borers. Other species are toxic, such as the blister beetle, or can spray toxic substances, such as the bombardier beetle.
Bombardier beetles are a fascinating type of Ground beetle found in cool, moist areas throughout the Western United States, including the Bay area.
Spittlebugs are known for the frothy spittle mass they produce while feeding on plants. They feed on a variety of plants like ornamental grasses, roses, chrysanthemums, clover, strawberries, herbs and many other garden plants. Spittlebug nymphs pierce the plant stems and suck plant juices.
Although, some bacterial spores not typically associated with water borne disease are capable of surviving boiling conditions (e.g. clostridium and bacillus spores), research shows that water borne pathogens are inactivated or killed at temperatures below boiling (212°F or 100°C).
Water bugs play an important role in aquatic ecosystems, both as predators and as a source of food for other organisms. They also serve as indicators of water quality, as certain species are sensitive to pollution and other environmental stressors.
When threatened, bombardier beetles mix two chemicals in their abdomen, causing a violent exothermic reaction that releases heat. The beetle takes aim, and a noxious, boiling liquid literally explodes onto the face of the beetle's attacker. These two chemicals are hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone.
Pheropsophus jessoensis ejects a hot chemical spray from the tip of the abdomen when it is attacked. Although all toads swallowed the bombardier beetles, 43% of the toads vomited the beetles 12–107 min after swallowing them. All the vomited beetles were still alive and active.
Adult bed bugs, in general, are: about the size of an apple seed (5-7 mm or 3/16 - 1/4 inch long); long and brown, with a flat, oval-shaped body (if not fed recently); balloon-like, reddish-brown, and more elongated (if fed recently);
Found in gardens and on crops, blister beetles release chemicals in their bites that create sores on the skin. Longhorned beetles, identified by their lengthy antennae, may also bite. A stag beetle bite or wound from any of these three species will typically require a few days to heal, but have no lasting effects.
Bombardier beetles are the gunslingers of the insect world. For centuries, these insects have been known for the explosive, boiling-hot discharges they release when harassed. Now it turns out that the beetles not only wield a powerful weapon but are formidable marksmen as well.
Beetle damage
Both larvae and adults of beetles can cause damage to crops. The larvae of some species feed on growing tips and roots or chew and bore into stems, but in other species also feed on leaves. Adult beetles cause damage by feeding on fruits, flower buds and leaves depending on the species.
Their primary defense mechanism to ward off predators, including humans, is releasing a foul-smelling chemical their bodies produce. However, it is not advisable to swat stink bugs on the skin, as they can release a liquid substance that may cause mild symptoms such as skin irritation or dermatitis.
Cantharidin, a poisonous chemical that causes blistering of the skin, is secreted as a defensive agent. It is used medically to remove warts and is collected for this purpose from species of the genera Mylabris and Lytta, especially Lytta vesicatoria, better known as "Spanish fly".
The adult beetles can fly, and they are attracted to light.