Insects have to deal with the harsh reality
that at any given time,
they could be consumed by a predator,
like toads and frogs,
in a blink of an eye.
They can be easy prey.
Forgive me for stating the obvious but once eaten,
this is where their story usually ends.
Except if you're a bombardier or water beetle.
These two bugs have a remarkable yet not so glorious
way to survive.
Being vomited or crawling out of their predator's butt.
"Ya nasty."
Let's find out why the survival of the fittest
isn't exactly pretty.
There are an estimated 2,000 species of water beetles
around the world.
They are omnivores that eat algae, small fish
and decaying matter.
Females lay their eggs in water vegetation.
The larvae are called "water tigers"
because they have middle aged dads
who call their kids "tiger."
Oh wait, no that's not right.
because they are fierce hunters who can eat small
water animals bigger than they are.
Oh yeah, that makes more sense.
Tadpoles tend to be one of the main dishes for water tigers
and considering frogs
are a water beetle's most common predator,
It seems like a fair trade. The ol' circle of life.
Frogs rarely kill their prey before swallowing
them whole,
meaning their digestive tract is much more active
in killing them.
For the water beetle, 90% make it out alive,
the only way they know-how.
Through the end zone.
Their hard exoskeleton may allow for added protection
against harsh digestive juices.
These beetles use their legs to swim actively
and help them escape.
Their hind legs have a fringe of sorts
that helps give them an added boost when swimming.
Researchers found live beetles were excreted quicker
than dead beetles.
They determined that the beetles must use their legs
and streamlined shape
to move through the digestive tract.
Water beetles are always excreted head first,
which suggests they stimulate the hindgut
and urge the frog to poop.
The minimum time it takes the beetles to get out
is six minutes.
Most make it out within a six hour timeframe.
Bombardier beetles can also survive
after being swallowed.
However, they like to come out of a different end
of the predator.
Its mouth.
This isn't as simple as just crawling out
like a water beetle.
This beetle can shoot boiling chemicals
that trigger the predator to vomit it up.
A chamber in its abdomen creates the toxic brew
only when needed.
The chemicals react and form hydrogen peroxide,
benzoquinones and a lot of pressure.
It shoots the chemicals with massive force,
causing damage to the skin and lungs.
Most bombardier beetles can get predators, like frogs,
to spit them out before ever being swallowed.
Toads have been studied swallowing these bugs
and then throwing them up 45 minutes later, perfectly fine.
Researchers have found that 43% of the beetles
that sprayed chemicals were vomited between
12 to 107 minutes later.
"I think I'm going to be sick."
It's clear that the bombardier beetle's chemical squirting
ability helps them survive.
But scientists are still puzzled
why they have it in the first place.
Bombardier beetles are hardier compared to other
species exposed to a predator's
strong stomach acids.
Biologists think they evolved their chemical defense
strictly for the ability to endure a toad's
digestive system.
Others have pointed out that for bombardier beetles
a flight escape isn't instantaneous
so it buys them time to get revved up.
Haven't got your fix for beetles and butts yet?
How about a combo?
Check out our episode on the dung beetle
and its relationship with big balls of poop.
Crawling out of the butts of frogs and toads
after shooting toxic chemicals to survive
is what water and bombardier beetles do.
And that's what makes them Crazy Creatures.