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Published on: September 2, 2016
Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: a biological pulse jet
J Dean1, D J Aneshansley, H E Edgerton
1Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
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.
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