Bombardier Beetle

Name: Bombardier Beetle

Scientific name: Brachinus crepitans

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 70

What are nature stars?

About: A rare ground beetle, only about 1cm long, that lives in warm sunny places on chalky grassland, heathland and in old sandy quarries. Aparently declining.

How to identify: Recognised by the glossy green-blue wing cases and orangey red head, thorax and legs.

Where: South East England

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 80
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 80
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: When disturbed, the Bombardier Beetle fires an explosive, corrosive liquid out of its back end with a 'popping' sound!

Photograph credit: Isidro Martínez