It's like weird Creature Super Powers
6. Super Infrared Fire Sensors - Jewel Beetle
As puny humans we can feel heat from flames and we can see a bush fire from several miles away - if we stand on a hill. The jewel beetle, however, who is as close to the deck as it’s possible to get - can detect a forest fire from 80 kilometres away. But that’s not all - it can actually hear the crackling of wood and knows exactly what is burning - by using ultra-sensitive infrared receptors embedded its chest. Why? Because it needs smoldering bark in which to breed.
Only when all prospective predators have scarpered or been fried to death is it safe for Mum to move in and lay her eggs. Even more cleverly - since the burnt tree is dead it can’t drown the kids in the usual defensive acidic resin. So effective are these infrared sensors that both scientists and the US military are currently using the same ‘technology’ to come up with the next generation of fire detectors.
