Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1885-07-21
INSECT DYNAMITERS.
HOW A BEETLE PROTECTS ITSELF
FROM ITS ENEMIES.
, Peculiar Effects Of the Ammunition Used
by a Bus Battery-A Travellers
Experimentation In
sect Guns.
Philadelphia Times. !

Philadelphia Times
Speaking Of insects, y said the natural.
ST reminds me that have dynamiter
here for exhibition Whenever you gentle.
men are ready All were ready and the
table was cleared Of the boxes except one,
which was placed in the center, :" pro-
pose gentlemen, said tie dynamite fiend,
Ito show not only an explosive insect,
but the effect of the explosion upon Others
who might possibly BE- enemies Upon
this he lifted a slide that was attached to
the box and Immediately there appeared
several medium.sizCl sprightly beetles
that started off around the table in an
active go-as.you.plslse race. An en-
closure was soon f rmed Of books and all
the beetles reno ed but one and then q
beetle Of a different species was intro
ducedSa wild, fey, untamed fellow, that
ran over the other at headlong speed. The
smaller beetle al first did not seem TO
notice this treatment. but finally, when Il
was fairly knoC ked over, il seemed 10 pre-.
pare itself to resent further attacks. 1t
raised itself hiyh upon its legs, shook its
wing covers nervously and. as the larger
insect came around the ring on a dead
run, IL turned suddenly. numbered ITSELF
30 10 81 eak. and, as tie enemy ap
preached. an audible report was heard, q
cloud for moment hung in the air and
he large beetle fell sprawling In its tracks
and with spasmodic struggles endeavored
20 back away from the living cannon.
The latter still retained its offensive
position, and upon being touched with
pencil again elected. twice in quick sue.
cession. volatile fluid that gave out de.
Eided pungent odor that was evidently
sufocating TO the larger beetle A mouse
was now introduced. add as it ran by the
dynamite insect II received discharge
that caused il to squeal with pain. and
with a conyulsiye action ii reared itself
upon its hind legs and for a few seconds
struggled as il in a fit A kitten sub.
jected 10 like discharge spit and rubbed
ner nose in rage and fear: and finally,
after several other discharges. the supply
OF ammunition seemed TO give out.
There's protection for you. sad the
delighted owner, taking up the dynamite
bug. wIich was rather long and narrow,
having n curious general appearance from
the fact that the head aud thoraX were
narrower than tie abdomen. The beetle,
he continued, was brought from LhiDs
by friend Of mine. or | should say, he
sent me dozen or so Of the Larvae and ]
Matched them out in my insect case Its
very common in China and Japan and va.
rious parts Of the east, and some species in
South America. The scieDtih. name Is
BrachinidT-tha is, that's tie family
name-but they generally 60 by the name
Of the Bombarlier beetle rom their habit
of bombarding all intruders at short
notice The explosive in this case is
volatile fluid secreted in the posterior por.
lion OF the boly, which the insect has the
NJ af1 trtfh hot
is felt several in hes away, and forming,
for moment a cloud as it were Of smoke.
To very small animals this may be fatal,
sud TO larger forms il is quite sufficient TO
stop their progress in given direction.
V stings and burns the human flesh for
several moments aud stains il 30 that the
marks are visible for several days
ITO show the over OF the explosive as
force. have placed beetle three inches
under water and the force Of tie explosion
would make the water boil all about
Experiments tried IN hot water showed
that the latter eiervesCed To the human
nostril the odor resembles that II muri-
attic acid and Is extremely irritating. II
any one wishes 10 try il in the Ilerests Of
Silence have another beetle all lunded ~
but there were no martyrs present
Nearly all The beetles Of this family have
this peculiar method of defense and ia
some localities the odor and effect Is
much worse than in Others. Burchard,
the well known traveller, had curious
experience With party Of natives he
started out one evening 10 make some as.
Economical observations, when his Atten-
ton was attracted by great numbers OF
beetles running about upon the shore.
Being a naturalist, he directed his men 10
capture some which they proceed to do
but the moment the insects were touched
they faced about and sent such an irritat
log discharge upon the hands Of the men
that they urupped them, bowling with
fear and pain. 80 painful was the dis
charge that only few Of the insects were
caught II was noticed that at the time
of the explosion white, semi-luminous
cloud appeared IN the air
Here. said the insect man. taking up
the dish OF water, is another living gun, "
and as he spoke be touched a small object
and a stream Of water four inches In
length sprang into the air The first
time | noticed this, continued the
speaIer. Il was looking down into the
water and was struck by the stream fairly
in the eye and upon investigation found
that IL came from the respiratory organ Of
the larva Of the common dragon fly.
This shooting water method Is not peculiar
10 insects There are q number of fishes
sbat have a similar habit one known
u the archer fish will rise 10 the surface
and eject a stream OF water four or i've
inches above the surface and so accurate
IN their aim that they can hit an object as
small as a ny with the greatest ease. The
long-nosed challodon Is equally remark.
sble In this respect Their bill seems ar
ranged 10 form perfect ali, gun. through
which drop Of water Is forced at an In.
ssct with. unerring aim T" The squids
hayea similar faculty Of ejccting a stream
az pure black INK and the writer has seen
the face OF apenon dfepched in this way.
tl.s inky eIffhm rising four or i've incnes
from the waller.