Stink Beetles

Since I'm talking about bugs and such, I'll post this picture
I took of stink beetles. They are sometimes called the
green carab beetle (though to be honest I've never heard
anyone refer to them as such). According to an article
put out in the local paper, one of their adaption strategies
is 'explosive breeding.' Sometimes during the summer
they swarm really badly around the sports field
lights. If they are disturbed they squirt a very smelly
substance. Eiew, yuck -- as the kids would say!

According to the CSIRO these beetle have an important as
predators of other arthropods and help to control pest
species. They're an important, but smelly part of the
Outback ecosystem.