Benderman's Cave Beetle vs Banded Aridaeus

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Benderman's Cave Beetle Banded Aridaeus
Scientific Name Pseudanophthalmus bendermani Aridaeus thoracicus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Cerambycidae
Size 4-5 mm 15-25 mm
Habitat Caves Forests
Diet Omnivores Wood Feeders
Regions United States Eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Benderman's Cave Beetle

A tiny blind ground beetle restricted to a single cave system in Virginia. It is federally listed as endangered in the United States.

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Did You Know?

It is known from only one cave in the entire world.

Banded Aridaeus

A medium-sized Australian cerambycid with a bright orange pronotum contrasting with dark brown elytra. It is found in eucalypt forests of eastern Australia. Larvae bore into dead and decaying eucalyptus branches.

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Did You Know?

Several Aridaeus species in Australia are so similar they can only be reliably distinguished by examining male genitalia.