Bombardier beetles have the infamous ability to synthesize and release rapid bursts of stinky, burning-hot liquid from their rear ends. These noxious emissions can kill other insects, or startle potential predators into backing off.

These chemical “bombs” are the source of their name: Bombardier beetles.

But there’s not just one type. In fact, there are over 500 species of bombardier beetles around the planet, many in the genus Brachinus, and more than 40 species in the United States alone.

They live in many different ecosystems, from forests to grasslands to deserts. Most are around the size of a fingernail, and many have dark-colored abdomens with reddish legs, heads, and antennae.

Bombardier emissions range from slow secretions to rapid bursts, hot enough