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Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: A biological pulse jet

  • J. Dean
  • , Daniel J. Aneshansley
  • , Harold E. Edgerton
  • , Thomas Eisner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

The defensive spray of the bombardier beetle Stenaptinus insignis is ejected in quick pulses (at about 500 pulses per second) rather than as a continuous stream. The pulsation may be a consequence of intermittency in the explosive chemical process that generates the spray. The ejection system of the beetle shows basic similarity to the pulse jet propulsion mechanism of the German V-1 "buzz" bomb of World War II.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1219-1221
Number of pages3
JournalScience
Volume248
Issue number4960
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1990

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