Chemical defense of a primitive Australian bombardier beetle (Carabidae):Mystropomus regularis

Thomas Eisner, Athula B. Attygalle, Maria Eisner, Daniel J. Aneshansley, Jerrold Meinwald

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Australian bombardier beetle, Mystropomus regularis, sprays a mixture of quinones (1,4-benzoquinone, 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-ethyl-1,4-benzoquinone) and hydrocarbons (principally n-pentadecane). The defensive fluid ist generated explosively in two-chambered glands, and is ejected audibly and hot (maximal recorded temperature = 59°C). Mystropomus is a member of the paussoid lineage of bombardiers. In common with other members of the group, it has a pair of elytral flanges (flanges of Coanda), associated with the gland openings, that serve as launching guides for anteriorly-aimed ejections of spray. It is argued that Mystropomus may be the least derived of flanged paussoids, and the closest living relative of the most primitive of extant bombardiers (Metriini).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-34
Number of pages6
JournalChemoecology
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1991

Keywords

  • Carabidae
  • Coleoptera
  • Paussinae
  • benzoquinones
  • bombardier beetle
  • defensive secretion
  • elytral flanges
  • evolution
  • hot secretion
  • hydrocarbons

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