Chinese Aquatic Firefly vs Trechine Cave Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chinese Aquatic Firefly | Trechine Cave Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aquatica ficta | Aphaenops cerberus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Carabidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 6-9 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Caves |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | China | French Pyrenees (Ariège, Haute-Garonne) |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Chinese Aquatic Firefly
A firefly with fully aquatic larvae found in streams across southern China. It was the first species placed in the genus Aquatica, erected specifically for water-dwelling lampyrids.
Did You Know?
Larvae breathe underwater using specialized tracheal gills unique among fireflies.
Trechine Cave Ground Beetle
A fully cave-adapted ground beetle from the Pyrenees with no eyes, no pigmentation, and extremely elongated spider-like legs and antennae. It is beautifully adapted to life in total darkness.
Did You Know?
Named after Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the underworld, this beetle navigates pitch-dark caves using enormously elongated antennae that can be twice its body length.