Cave Cricket vs Subterranean Diving Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cave Cricket Subterranean Diving Beetle
Scientific Name Ceuthophilus secretus Limbodessus palmulaoides
Order Orthoptera Coleoptera
Family Rhaphidophoridae Dytiscidae
Size 12-20 mm 1.5-2.5 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Fungus Feeders Omnivores
Regions North America Australia
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Cave Cricket

A wingless, hump-backed cricket with extremely long antennae adapted for life in total darkness. It emerges from caves at night to forage on the surface.

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Did You Know?

Cave crickets can jump up to 60 times their body length, making them one of the most impressive jumpers relative to size in the insect world.

Subterranean Diving Beetle

An eyeless aquatic beetle living in underground calcrete aquifers of Western Australia. It has lost all pigmentation and wing development.

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Did You Know?

It evolved independently from surface ancestors trapped by the aridification of Australia.