Changes

The heat and vapor creates pressure that forces the valve closed, and squirts the chemicals through openings at the tip of the abdomen.  

The heat and vapor creates pressure that forces the valve closed, and squirts the chemicals through openings at the tip of the abdomen.  

Hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone do not explode spontaneously, as creationist writers have sometimes claimed, if mixed without a chemical inhibitor.<ref>Dawkins, Richard, 1987. The Blind Watchmaker, Norton, NY p. 86-87</ref> The liquid explodes inside the beetle. This is the reason that its force can be directed against a threat. If the liquid exploded outside the beetle, it would be a less effective defence because the beetle would not be able to direct its force against its attacker. <ref>Aneshansley, Daniel J. & T. Eisner, 1969. Biochemistry at 100C: explosive secretory discharge of bombardier beetles (Brachinus). Science 165: 61-63.</ref><ref> Aneshansley, D.J., T.H. Jones, D. Alsop, J. Meinwald, & T. Eisner, 1983. Thermal concomitants and biochemistry of the explosive discharge mechanism of some little known bombardier beetles. Experientia 39: 366-368</ref><ref> Eisner, Thomas, George E. Ball, Braden Roach, Daniel J. Aneshansley, Maria Eisner, Curtis L. Blankespoor, & Jerrold Meinwald, 1989. Chemical defense of an Ozaenine bombardier beetle from New Guinea. Psyche 96: 153-160.</ref>

However, experimental evidence shows that hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone do not explode spontaneously, as creationist writers have sometimes claimed, if mixed without a chemical inhibitor.<ref>Dawkins, Richard, 1987. The Blind Watchmaker, Norton, NY p. 86-87</ref> The liquid explodes inside the beetle. This is the reason that its force can be directed against a threat. If the liquid exploded outside the beetle, it would be a less effective defence because the beetle would not be able to direct its force against its attacker. <ref>Aneshansley, Daniel J. & T. Eisner, 1969. Biochemistry at 100C: explosive secretory discharge of bombardier beetles (Brachinus). Science 165: 61-63.</ref><ref> Aneshansley, D.J., T.H. Jones, D. Alsop, J. Meinwald, & T. Eisner, 1983. Thermal concomitants and biochemistry of the explosive discharge mechanism of some little known bombardier beetles. Experientia 39: 366-368</ref><ref> Eisner, Thomas, George E. Ball, Braden Roach, Daniel J. Aneshansley, Maria Eisner, Curtis L. Blankespoor, & Jerrold Meinwald, 1989. Chemical defense of an Ozaenine bombardier beetle from New Guinea. Psyche 96: 153-160.</ref>

Evolutionary biologists have postulated evolutionary accounts of these traits. <ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/bombardier.html Bombardier Beetles and the Argument of Design by Mark Isaak, 1997]</ref>

Evolutionary biologists have postulated evolutionary accounts of these traits. <ref>[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/bombardier.html Bombardier Beetles and the Argument of Design by Mark Isaak, 1997]</ref>