The bombardier beetle has a unique way of defending itself

The bombardier beetle fires a noxious, smelly chemical around 100 C in temperature from its bottom at any predator which tries to attack it.

And conservationists have found it living on a nature reserve near the Aberthaw Power Station in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The beetle - Brachinus crepitans - measures between six and 10 millimetres and makes the sound of breaking wind when defending itself when under attack.

It is the first time it has been spotted at the site since the 1980s.

Alex Coxhead, who is the reserve manager for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, looks after the Aberthaw Lagoon and Saltmarsh nature reserve for the owners of the power station Innogy.

It makes a sound like a 'parp' with a lot of smoke and noise Alex Coxhead, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

"The beetle is very clever because it has developed this amazing anti-predator device," he said.

"It fires two chemicals from chambers inside its body. And it forms a chemical reaction when they mix, making an explosive sound.

"It makes a sound like a 'parp' with a lot of smoke and noise," he said.

But despite the violence of its defence mechanism, Mr Coxhead stressed that the beetle only used its gassy protection when a bird or small mammal attempts to eat it.

"They are not dangerous creatures - they are vegetarians and will only use their defensive stance when they feels in danger," he said.

The beetle lives on the nature reserve near Aberthaw power station

"There are several different types of bombardier beetle, but this is the only type found in the UK, usually in southern England.

"They like coastal, limestone, grassy areas and I think this is why they are here in Aberthaw because it hasn't been developed by agriculture.

"Now we know it is here, we are going to carry out a conservation exercise to protect it and the other wildlife here.