Bombardier beetles can’t fly. They have wings, but they are just vestiges from their evolutionary past. The wings were used for flight once upon a time in their evolutionary history, but not anymore. Bombardier beetles are graced with a pair of long blue wings which adorn and cover most of their body (see […]
How Did the Bombardier Beetle Get Its Name?
The bombardier beetle is named after its incredible defense mechanism, which allows it to “bombard” rivals and threats with a cannon fire of noxious, boiling liquid. The bombardier beetle is a carnivore, and rather than passively munching on leaves like many other ground beetles, it eats other insects for food. […]
How Do Bombardier Beetles Defend Themselves?
The bombardier beetle’s defense mechanism is is one of the most unique and studied in the animal kingdom. It is so incredible that even the origin of its name is derived from it. The bombardier beetle has two separate chambers a reservoirs located side-by-side in its thorax, or rear of […]
What Do Bombardier Beetles Eat?
Bombardier beetles are carnivorous, unlike many other types of ground beetle such as the Japanese beetle which is an herbivore. They eat insects and insect larva, including many species of beetle. The bombardier beetle is nocturnal in its hunting behavior, and spends the dark hours patrolling the ground for other […]
Where Do Bombardier Beetles Live?
Bombardier beetles like to live in grasslands and forests that get plenty of rain. They take shelter in dead wood along the banks of rivers and streams. They can carve tunnels in rotting logs and other organic matter such as piles of leaves. Mild climates are what bombardier beetles prefer. […]
Where Do Japanese Beetles Sleep?
Japanese beetles nest and sleep in the ground. They burrow a few inches underground, or as deep as necessary to get adequate protection from the elements. When it rains, Japanese beetles will dig their way through the soil and find a temporary home underneath the soil in order to find […]
Milky Spore Kills Japanese Beetle Grubs (Larva)
Most insecticides only kill adult Japanese beetles. In order to interrupt the life cycle of the Japanese beetle, it’s important to also kill the young grubs. Japanese beetle grubs live underground. The eggs were laid there by their mothers and the grubs develop a few inches beneath the surface for up […]
How to Treat a Japanese Beetle Bite?
Japanese beetles don’t bite too often because they don’t come in direct contact with humans or other animals very much. They are herbivores and seek out flowers and leaves to feed on. They stay away from animals who could be considered threats. And although it is rare, Japanese beetles can […]
