Common Bat Fly vs Speyer's Cave Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Bat Fly | Speyer's Cave Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Basilia nana | Aphaobius milleri |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nycteribiidae | Leiodidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Caves |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Detritivores |
| Regions | Europe | Austria, Slovenia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Speyer's Cave Beetle
A troglobitic beetle endemic to caves in the eastern Alps. It has a convex body shape and completely lacks eyes.
Did You Know?
It can tolerate near-freezing temperatures in high-altitude caves.