Bombardier beetles are ground beetles (Carabidae) in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini—more than 500 species altogether—which are most notable for the defense mechanism that gives them their name: when disturbed, they eject a hot noxious chemical spray from the tip of the abdomen with a popping sound.
Brachinus is a genus of ground beetle native to the Nearctic, Palearctic, the Near East and North Africa. Beetles in this genus are commonly referred to as bombardier beetles. The genus contains the following species:
Platyderus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae. There are more than 100 described species in Platyderus.
Brachinus andalusiacus is a species of ground beetle in the Carabinae subfamily that can be found in Spain and Morocco.
Brachinus albarracinus is a species of ground beetle from the Brachininae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.
Brachinus angustatus is a species of ground beetle from the Carabinae subfamily that can be found in Spain and North African countries such as Algeria and Morocco. Brachinus angustatus was one of the many beetles found in the collection of Count Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean
Brachinus bellicosus is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in France, Portugal, and Spain.
Brachinus olgae is a species of ground beetle in the Brachinoaptinus subgenus that is endemic to Spain.
Brachinus pateri is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that is endemic to Spain. The species have 3 subspecies all of which are endemic to Spain.
Brachinus pecoudi is a species of ground beetle from the Brachininae subfamily that is endemic to Spain. The species have 3 subspecies all of which are endemic to Spain.
Brachinus testaceus is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that is endemic to Spain.
Brachinus alexandri is a species of ground beetle from the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Ukraine, southern part of Russia, Near East, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Asia Minor, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, The species are 9 millimetres (0.35 in) in length, and have black eyes and body, with orange head and legs.
Brachinus berytensis is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece. It can also be found in the Near Eastern countries such as Armenia, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. The species look similar to Brachinus bombarda.
Brachinus efflans is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, and on the islands such as Sicily. It can also be found in North African countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and is common in Syria too. The species is black coloured with red head and legs, and is similar to Brachinus crepitans.
Brachinus ejaculans is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Luxembourg, Romania, Ukraine, southern part of Russia, and in every state of former Yugoslavia, but it is doubtful whether it is present in Slovenia. It can also be found in East Palaearctic, Near and Middle Eastern countries, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.
Brachinus crepitans is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Europe, central Asia, the Middle East, and northern Africa.
Brachinus elegans is a species of ground beetle in the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Bulgaria, Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, all states of former Yugoslavia, in Western Europe, and on the islands such as Sardinia and Sicily. Besides European countries it can be found in Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Turkey. It can also be found in North African country of Morocco. The species were also found in Georgia in 2004.
Brachinus psophia is a species of ground beetle from the Brachininae subfamily that can be found in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, Ukraine, all states of former Yugoslavia, and in Western Europe. It can also be found on such European islands as Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, and on the island of Cyprus in Asia. Besides European countries it can be found in Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Central Asian republics. It is also known from Turkey, The species were also found and described in Georgia in 2004, and Romania.
Brachinus texanus is a species of ground beetle in the genus Brachinus, in the family Carabidae . It is found in North America. Like other bombardier beetles, it can spray a boiling, corrosive liquid from its abdomen if provoked, and as such should not be handled.
Brachinus fumans, the American bombardier beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.
