How does the bombardier beetle work?

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Chromocenter, 12.10.2006 12:57

It is possible that somewhere and told me about this amazing, in my opinion, insect. But in what topic - the search does not give anything. Yes, and Googling also led me to see how special it is, and I would like to know what kind of modification it has this device. Here, for example, the "ears" of a grasshopper-a modification of the trachea. What kind of systems are there? And are there any related beetles that have something similar, but not to the same extent as his?

Comments

12.10.2006 16:45, sealor

Here's something:

42) consists of a gland connected by a duct to a reservoir in which aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinones accumulate. Through a narrow duct equipped with a muscular sphincter, these substances enter the external chamber, which communicates with the external environment. The cells of the outer chamber walls secrete the enzymes catalase and peroxidase. A portion of the substrate (hydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, hydrogen peroxide) is squeezed out into the outer chamber, where an explosive reaction occurs instantly. Catalase decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and molecular oxygen, and peroxidase oxidizes hydroquinones to the corresponding quinones:
Under the pressure of the resulting gases, the mixture is shot out as an aerosol at a temperature of ~100 °C.
Many beetles are protected by spraying caustic or toxic substances. For example, blackbirds and ground beetles secrete benzoquinones and toluquinones. Dytiscus swim beetles secrete a milky fluid containing 11-deoxycorticosterone, a precursor to aldosterone in vertebrates. Under its influence, fish develop a violation of water-salt metabolism and osmotic balance up to a state of shock.

B. N. ORLOV, D. B. GELASHVILI, A. K. IBRAGIMOV
POISONOUS ANIMALS AND PLANTS OF THE USSR

This post was edited by sealor - 10/12/2006 16: 47

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