Bombardier Beetle

Posted on March 31, 2009 in Daily Life Hiking Insects

Drake, our [[Boston terrier]], sees every outdoors adventure as an opportunity to explore odors. On Sunday afternoon, he found a [[bombardier beetle]] ((The western variety, quite common in the foothills and mountains, is jet black.)) crossing the trail. Drake sniffed. The beetle sprayed its virulence up his nose. Our dog staggered away then corkscrewed his nose into a tuft of grass. His pain and his shame was brief and he trotted off.