Dry Fork Valley Cave Beetle vs False Ringlet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dry Fork Valley Cave Beetle False Ringlet
Scientific Name Pseudanophthalmus montanus Coenonympha oedippus
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Carabidae Nymphalidae
Size 4-5 mm 30-36 mm wingspan
Habitat Caves Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions United States Scattered localities in Europe, east to Japan
Conservation Endangered Near Threatened (critically endangered in EU)

Dry Fork Valley Cave Beetle

A cave-obligate beetle from the Dry Fork Valley region of West Virginia. Like all members of its genus, it is completely eyeless.

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Did You Know?

It can only survive in the constant-temperature deep zones of caves.

False Ringlet

A small, drab brown butterfly with a row of striking silver-centred eyespots on the hindwing underside. It is one of the most endangered butterflies in western Europe.

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Did You Know?

It has vanished from over 90% of its former European range in the last century due to wetland drainage.