Bombardier beetles defend themselves by spraying boiling, toxic chemicals up to 212°F at predators. They can survive being eaten and force predators like toads to spit them out. Their explosive spray ...

There are around 400,000 species of beetles on Earth, and they are a food source for countless animals. They have had to develop strategies to protect themselves from would-be predators, and one of ...

Evidence proves the bombardier beetle survives up to 2 hours inside a toad’s stomach. Some insects sting, some bite, and some spray acid bombs out of their nether regions. It’s a perfectly tactical ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This ...

The unfortunate frog or toad that accidentally mistakes a bombardier beetle for a tasty snack will find itself sorry. This unique beetle has the remarkable ability to spew a boiling-hot acid at its ...

Some insects sting, some bite, and some spray acid bombs out of their nether regions. It’s a perfectly tactical defense, and highly effective for the bombardier beetle. From a predator’s perspective, ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. The beetle that ‘shouldn’t exist’ turns out to be a case study in how complex traits actually evolve. Here’s how it came to be, ...