Bombardier Beetle Physiology -- Secrets of Sprays Unlocked (IMAGE)
Caption
Researchers used intense X-rays at the Advanced Photon Source, located at Argonne National Laboratory, to study how the bombardier beetle sprays hot, caustic chemicals from two rear glands when threatened.
Top: The bombardier beetle can aim its noxious spray from two separate rear glands.
Bottom: This colored scanning electron microscope image shows the structure of the two glands. To protect the beetle's insides, the chambers holding the chemicals are lined with a thick layer of protective cuticle, shown in brown. Areas with less cuticle -- and more flexibility -- are shown in blue. The white arrow identifies the reaction chamber; the purple arrow shows the junction between the reaction chamber and the exit channel; and the yellow arrow points out the exit channel dorsal membrane.
More info at http://www.anl.gov/articles/beetlejuice-secrets-beetle-sprays-unlocked-advanced-photon-source
Credit
Wah-Keat Lee/Brookhaven & Argonne National Laboratories
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