Benderman's Cave Beetle vs Common Bat Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Benderman's Cave Beetle | Common Bat Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pseudanophthalmus bendermani | Basilia nana |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Nycteribiidae |
| Size | 4-5 mm | 2-3 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Caves |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | United States | Europe |
| 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.
Did You Know?
It is known from only one cave in the entire world.
Common Bat Fly
A tiny, completely wingless spider-like fly that parasitizes bats. Its body is so highly modified for ectoparasitism that it bears almost no resemblance to a typical fly.
Did You Know?
It has evolved to be so specialized that its head folds back over the thorax, and it walks like a spider through bat fur.