Bombardier Beetle vs Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bombardier Beetle Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn
Scientific Name Brachinus crepitans Agapanthia villosoviridescens
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Cerambycidae
Size 5-13 mm 1-2 cm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Meadows
Diet Omnivores Parasitoids
Regions Europe, North America, Asia, Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Bombardier Beetle

Defends itself with a boiling-hot chemical spray ejected from its abdomen at over 100°C. The reaction involves mixing hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide.

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Did You Know?

The bombardier beetle fires its chemical spray at 100°C in rapid pulses of about 70 per second, allowing its internal reaction chamber to avoid exploding.

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn

A longhorn beetle covered in golden-green hairs found in European meadows. Larvae develop inside the stems of thistles and hogweed.

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Did You Know?

Its golden pubescence wears off with age, making older beetles appear darker and plainer.