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In fact, the gland required the evolution of two new cell types: one that makes a harmless fatty acid solvent and another that makes a toxic cocktail of compounds called benzoquinones.—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2023 The benzoquinones need to be dissolved in the fatty acid solvent to become a potent mixture that beetles can spray on attacking ants to repel them.—Viviane Callier, Scientific American, 27 Sep. 2023 While the solvent cells are clearly derived from the exoskeleton membrane cells, the developmental origin of the novel benzoquinone-producing cells is still mysterious.—Quanta Magazine, 16 Aug. 2021 Bombardier beetles spew irritating benzoquinones from their abdomens, and fire salamanders spray toxins from their glands over a foot away.—National Geographic, 7 Jan. 2020 To create their spray, the beetles combine hydrogen peroxide with hydroquinones, which explodes into an irritating spray of benzoquinone.—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 21 Feb. 2018
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