A silent color film by Harold E. Edgerton, Daniel J. Aneshansley and Thomas Eisner demonstrates the spray mechanisms of several types of bombardier beetles (Ozaenine Carabid, Metrine Carabid). Chemical indicator paper placed beneath each beetle allows the scientists to capture the direction and intensity of the emissions sprayed when the beetle is poked. Title cards explain the details and distinguish between images shot at the normal speed of 24 fps and at the high speed of 400 fps. The research was a collaboration with the New York State College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Cornell University (likely 1981).

TIME CODE	DESCRIPTION
00:00:01	Introductory information: film title, synopsis, date, run time.
00:00:08	Film starts.
00:00:15	[Title card] “Bombardier Beetles”
00:00:21	[Title card] “Spray Mechanism of Africa Bombardier Beetle (Carabidae: Stenaptinus insignis)”
00:00:27	A beetle is held in place on a flat light-colored surface. [Title card] “DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING (on chemical indicator paper) Normal speed: 24 fps.” A tweezer is used to pinch one of its legs to provoke the beetle, which spits out a dark-red colored spray in real time. After a few seconds the tweezer is used again to provoke another spray, from a back leg. After another few seconds the beetle is provoked a third time by a tweezer that pinches a middle leg. Each time the beetle delivers a dark spray in reaction.
00:00:53	Another take (filmed at normal speed): a beetle’s front leg is pulled until he sends out a spray. After a few seconds another provoked spray comes from a back leg. A third provoked spray comes from a middle leg.
00:01:29	Filmed in slow motion: close-up of a beetle as its hind leg is pulled by a tweezer. [Title card] “DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING, Slow Motion: 400 fps.” A small puff appears above the leg as spray is released from its abdomen end.
00:02:07	Filmed in slow motion: a beetle is provoked to spray, tweezed on a middle leg.
00:02:27	Filmed in slow motion: a beetle is provoked to spray a couple of times, tweezed on a front leg.
00:02:49	[Title card] “PULSED DELIVERY OF SPRAY, Ultra-slow motion: 2670 fps.” A beetle is shown in profile as he is provoked to spray: a jet appears as pulses, and a smoky emanation appears. (b/w footage)
00:03:33	[Title card] “SPRAY MECHANISM OF OZAENINE CARABID (Carabidae: Goniotropis nicaraguenis)”
00:03:40	[Title card] “DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING (on chemical indicator paper). Normal speed: 24 fps”
00:03:43	Filmed at normal speed: a beetle seen from above, is provoked by tweezing to spray several times.
00:04:19	[Title card] DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING, Slow Motion: 400 fps”. Tweezed on hind leg, a beetle drip-sprays onto the tweezer and then onto light blue chemical paper, which turns pink.
00:05:22	Filmed in slow motion: another take of the same beetle, focusing on back abdomen.
00:05:37	Filmed in slow motion: the beetle, tweezed on front leg, sprays several times.
00:05:54	Filmed in slow motion: focus on beetle’s abdomen shows fizzling creamy liquid as it sprays.
00:07:13	[Title card] “SPRAY MECHANISM OF METRINE CARABID (Carabidae: Metrius contractus)”
00:07:20	[Title card] “DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING (on chemical indicator paper) Normal Speed: 24 fps”
00:07:24	Filmed at normal speed: a beetle seen from above, provoked to spray several times by tweezing.
00:08:14	Filmed at normal speed: a beetle seen up close, provoked to spray several times by tweezing.
00:08:43	[Title card] “DIRECTIONAL SPRAYING / Slow Motion: 400 fps.” Shows liquid bubbling from beneath beetle’s wings (?) on its abdomen.
00:08:57	Filmed in slow motion: another take shows the beetle’s front leg tweezed, producing sizzling liquid and a faint smoky mixture from beneath the abdomen layer.
00:9:10	Filmed in slow motion: another take shows that tweezing the beetle’s rear leg produces a sizzling liquid and faint smoky mixture from the rear of its abdomen.
00:09:24	[Title card] “NORMAL SPEED AND SLOW MOTION FILMING: D. Aneshansley and T. Eisner / ULTRA-SLOW MOTION FILMING: H.E. Edgerton and T. Eisner”
00:09:34	[Title card] SUPPORTED IN PART BY: N.S.F. Grant BMS 75-15084 / N.I.H. Grant AI-02908”
00:09:39	“Presented by NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES. A STATUTORY COLLEGE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NEW YORK”
00:09:47	Film ends.
00:09:52	© 2010 MIT credits

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