Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1916 — ONE BEETLE A GAS FIGHTER [ARTICLE]

ONE BEETLE A GAS FIGHTER

It Seems Nature Discovered Value of Poison Fumes in War Before the London. —The discovery of poisonous gas seems to have been anticipated in nature’s laboratory. A little British beetle hqs been employing poison gas to defend itself for untold ages. One of the strongholds of the Bombardier beetle (Brachinus crepitans) is along the shores of the Thames in the Gravesend district. Here it > finds a home under the flat stones that are scattered by thW river’s bank. The Bombardier beetle is very liable to be attacked by some of the fierce ground beetles, ot Carabidae, as they are properly called. As soon as the pursuer draw* close a very remarkable thing happens. First of all the Bombardier beetle ejects a peculiar liquid which, when It comes into contact with the atmosphere “bursts Into a sort of a pale blue-green flame, followed by a klpd of smoke.” tKTs Is seen to have an astonishing effect upon the pursuing beetle. Instantly It seems to be overwhelmed and quite stupefied by the suddenness! of the attack. The smoke appears to have a blinding and suffocating tendency, and the effect lasts for a mi nut* or so. During this time the Bombardier beetle is able to make good Its escape. . -