Long-tailed Dance Fly vs Tooth Cave Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Dance Fly | Tooth Cave Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhamphomyia longicauda | Rhadine persephone |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Empididae | Carabidae |
| Size | 5-8mm | 0.5-0.7 cm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Caves |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Long-tailed Dance Fly
A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Males present nuptial gifts.
Did You Know?
Females inflate their legs with air bubbles to look larger and more impressive to choosy males in mating swarms.
Tooth Cave Ground Beetle
A tiny eyeless ground beetle found only in a few limestone caves near Austin, Texas. It is a specialized predator of other cave invertebrates.
Did You Know?
It is completely blind and has never been found outside of the total darkness of cave systems.