Mediterranean Drilus vs European Glow-Worm Click Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mediterranean Drilus European Glow-Worm Click Beetle
Scientific Name Drilus mauritanicus Phosphaenus hemipterus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Drilidae Lampyridae
Size 5-7 mm (male), 15-20 mm (female) 6-10 mm
Habitat Heathland Underground
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North Africa, Mediterranean Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mediterranean Drilus

A North African drilus beetle with small winged males bearing brown elytra and pectinate antennae. The larviform females are specialized predators of Mediterranean land snails.

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Did You Know?

After consuming a snail, the female lays her eggs inside the empty snail shell, which also serves as protection for the developing larvae.

European Glow-Worm Click Beetle

A small European firefly with reduced wings in the male and completely wingless females. Both sexes produce faint bioluminescence.

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Did You Know?

Males walk along the ground rather than flying, making them one of the few fireflies where males cannot fly at all.