The Beetle's Pressure-Spray System

As I was looking through a magazine I came across this article called, “ The Beetle’s Pressure- Spray System. This article mentioned that, though, less than an inch in length, the beetle is noted for its unique defense mechanism. When the beetle is threatened the insect sprays boiling, foul-smelling liquid and steam from its posterior, warding off spiders, birds, and even frogs. How can it do so? The beetle is equipped with a pair of glands which open at the tip of its abdomen. Each of these has a reservoir that stores an acidic compound and hydrogen peroxide as well as a reaction chamber filled with enzymes dissolved in water. To protect itself, the insect can squeeze the solution from the reservoirs into the reaction chambers to trigger a chemical reaction. As a result, noxious chemicals, water and steam- at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit- are sprayed onto an attacker. The chambers are less than a sixteenth of an inch long. Yet, the beetle can change the speed, direction, and consistency of this toxic spray. Researchers have studied the bombardier beetle to learn how to develop more effective and ecologically-sound mist systems. They have discovered that the beetle not only uses one-way inlet valves to allow chemicals into the reaction chambers but, also, has a pressure-relief valve to expel them. Engineers hope to use spray technology base on the bombardier beetle in car engines and fire extinguishers, as well as in medical drug-delivery thingies, such as inhalers. Scientist have not truly appreciated this small insect as much as they do now, because they have been able to learn many things and mostly to a commoners interest.