Scientists have tried to untangle the internal chemistry of bombardier beetles for decades. Because the beetle’s spray contains chemicals called benzoquinones, the prevailing hypothesis was that ...

The coordinated movements of two chambers within the gland of a species of bombardier beetles (Brachinus elongatulus) allow the insects to effortlessly spray rapid pulses of noxious irritants, ...

Japanese researchers filmed a bombardier beetle being eaten by a toad—and then watched in amazement as it escaped over an hour later by releasing explosions of benzoquinone in the toad’s stomach. “The ...