Toxic vapor cannons, beak-swords and stink-blobs. The newest in video game fun? Perhaps a sci-fi thriller? Not quite. Actually, these are all weapons used by some very unusual insects. But don't be disappointed. Even though they’re just bugs, these insects are loaded and ready for action.
READY. AIM. FIRE!
The beetle is cornered by a nasty predator, the frog.
POP POP POP!
Like machine gun fire, the beetle blasts the unsuspecting victim with three shots of toxic vapor. It’s a direct hit to the face. The frog leaps about as if in pain. The beetle scurries off to safety.
The bombardier beetle not only is a fast runner, but when it comes to chemical warfare, it’s the master. How does it do this? An organ in the beetle’s body has two separate chambers where toxins are made. When the beetle feels threatened, these chemicals come together in a third chamber and heat to boiling. The bombardier beetle has a cannon-like rear end and can aim and fire with precision. The toxins explode out with tiny POP or CRACK sound. The burning, gaseous cloud is very irritating to the skin and may even leave a blister.
The bombardier beetle lives throughout the United States and southern Canada. The bombardier is a ground dweller and hunts for insects at night. During the day it hides under leaves, logs, and stones.
ON GUARD
The assassin bug creeps along a leaf. It's slow and silent as it stalks its prey. Its six legs, tough gray body, neatly folded wings, and pointed, wheel-like back ridge all move with purpose. The unsuspecting victim hasn’t a clue what is about to happen. Suddenly, the assassin bug lunges forward, grasping the prey with its thick, spiny front legs. With one swift motion it clamps onto the fly and thrusts down the sword. The fly lies motionless.
The wheel bug is one of the largest insects in the assassin bug species. Adults measure 35 millimeters in length. Along with the gear-like ridge along its back, the wheel bug also has two long antennas on a thin, elongated head, where you’ll find its secret weapon—the beak-sword. This works like a sharp drinking straw and is concealed against its chest when not in use.
After the wheel bug impales its victim, it injects it with an enzyme-laden saliva. This immobilizes the intended meal, and within 30 seconds the victim’s innards have turned to a soupy mush. The assassin now slurps away for about two hours. After the wheel bug finishes, the victim looks the same on the outside, but inside it’s completely hollow.
These fascinating bugs live throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in southeastern Canada.
BOMBS AWAY
Mom senses danger. It’s a villainous wasp hovering just overhead. She quickly gathers her 24 nymphs under her triangular body.
The wasp approaches.
Mom waves her antennae to scare it off. Not fazed, the wasp flies even closer. Mom uses her tough, shield-like back and buzzes her wings. The wasp ignores her threat and lands just out of reach. Mom kicks out her middle and back legs in another attempt to scare it away.
It works. The determined wasp takes to the air once again, darting back and forth.
One of the nymphs edges out to see what all the commotion is about. The wasp speeds toward it. Mom’s ready and silently drops her most powerful secret weapon . . . the stink blob. The wasp catches a whiff of this noxious smell and zips away in the opposite direction. Lunch will have to wait.
Stink bugs range from 6 to 12 millimeters in size and come in various colors. Most are brown, gray, and green. Some, like the harlequin stink bug, are black with bright yellow or orange markings. All stink bugs have a large triangular structure on their backs. This raised covering points toward their hind end and is called the scutellum.
As their name suggests, stink bugs also produce a chemical so noxious and foul that most insects and animals are repelled by it immediately. However, the stink blob is used only as a last resort since it saps most of the bug’s energy.
Not all insects are as protective of their young as the parent bug. She will still protect her young even when they’re old enough to be on their own. When the young wander off, they secrete a scent trail. If in trouble, they send out a powerful alarm scent. It’s Mom to the rescue as she follows this scent path right to them.
If you want to learn more about these and other weird bugs, visit your local library, the internet, or an insect museum. And remember, the next time you see a bug, don’t bug it . . . you never know, it might just be loaded.
SPIT, GOO, AND HONEY POTS
The frog hopper larva spits to protect itself. This frothy substance known as “cuckoo-spit” comes from the larva blowing air into a liquid that comes from their anus. This protects them from predators as well as keeping them moist.
Some species of termites have exploding soldiers. These dedicated members of the colony
will literally burst their guts open to stop an invasion . . . and it works. The sticky, slimy goo covers the enemy, stopping the attack. The only problem is they sacrifice themselves in the process.
Honey pot ants feed on nectar, but in the long, dry season when no nectar is available, they just go to their living storehouses. These special ants, known as repletes, are continuously fed by the workers until they’re engorged and almost ready to burst. Other ants can then extract the food from them when needed.
Aboriginal tribes in Australia have been known to raid these ant nests in search of the honey pots. They pop these tasty little ants into their mouths for a sweet treat.
Photograph Copyright © 2008 Wikipedia
Copyright © 2008 by Sandie Lee