Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: a biological pulse jet |
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| Authors: | J Dean D J Aneshansley H E Edgerton T Eisner |
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| Institution: | Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. |
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| 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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