Brachinus fumans Fabricius

American bombardier beetle

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: NOT EVALUATED external link Showing: scientific names

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Table of Contents

Morphology

Physical Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Animal Diversity Web external link
Copyright
©1995-2008, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Some rights reserved external link
Author
Ezra Poetker, University of California-Irvine
Editor
Rudi Berkelhamer, University of California at Irvine
Location
Source URL
View original data object external link
Citation
Poetker, E. 2003. "Brachinus fumans" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 25, 2009 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Brachinus_fumans.html. 

 

Like all members of the insect order Coleoptera, the bombardier beetle has two elytra (sheaths) over its wings, although the wings themselves are considered vestigal in the American species, and rather useless for flying. To compensate for this inability to escape by flying away from predators, the beetle possesses a rather interesting apparatus for defending itself against predators, which will be elaborated on later. All of the other characteristics of insects in general (six legs, two antennae, body segmented into head, thorax, and abdomen, etc.) are present (Isaak 1997).

 
"Brachinus fumans Fabricius". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/1035472". Accessed 15 Mar 2010.