Awareness on Insects: The Incredible Story of the Bombardier Beetle
Using an insect as an inspiration, design a project that explores your curiosity for or may increase awareness of an insect. This can be an artistic, scientific, or educational endeavor. If writing a report, it should be 1-2 pages in length. This is a flexible project, thus there cannot be one singular rubric that would extend to all possible submissions. Students should spend approximately 8 - 10 hours on the concept and design of the project, and the quality of work should reflect the time spent on it.
You will be graded on quality and knowledge/expertise displayed beyond the scope of the lecture material. You should not summarize anything that can be found in lecture slides and instead conduct your own research. If possible, you should aim to utilize skills in your major.
Some examples are (but not limited to):
- Create an educational resource about an insect (fact sheet) for pest management or conservation
- Drawing an insect for use in an art project or a nature journal entry showing an insect in the environment
- Write a short report on a specific insect in science or culture that is not covered in lecture material, such as a movie analysis, use in science or technology, use in cuisine, etc.
- Create a localized identification guide of insects you might find in a specific place
- Example: common insects at Rutgers gardens
- Write a screenplay of an insect cameo in a movie
- Write a short story or poem featuring an insect
- Create an animated story or documentary piece
The Incredible Story of the Bombardier Beetle
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The Incredible Story of the Bombardier Beetle
Within the domain of insects exists an extraordinary organism that, notwithstanding its minuscule stature, possesses a commendable defense mechanism and a source of scientific astonishment. The Bombardier Beetle (Carabidae: Brachininae) is an intriguing insect notable for its distinctive and formidable self-preservation mode. Globally, the Bombardier Beetle, a Carabidae family member, comprises more than five hundred species. Nevertheless, its unique attribute resides in its defense mechanism, differentiating it from other insect species.
Anatomy and Defense Mechanism
When threatened, the Bombardier Beetle's remarkable defense mechanism relies on its capacity to produce and discharge a fiery chemical mist. Hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide, two distinct chemical compounds, are segregated and stored in its abdomen until required. A specialized organ provides enzymes that facilitate these compounds' rapid and accurate catalytic fusion (Eisner & Aneshansley, 1999). The beetle coordinates the regulated discharge of these compounds into a reaction chamber once it has been activated.
As a result of a lightning-fast reaction and tremendous pressure, these chemicals combine and attain temperatures of up to 100°C (212°F). The volatile mixture that affects is forcibly expelled via a specialized nozzle located at the posterior of the beetle. The egress generates a scalding and