Namib Fog Beetle vs Apache Cicada
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Namib Fog Beetle | Apache Cicada |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stenocara gracilipes | Diceroprocta apache |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Cicadidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 30-40 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Africa | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Namib Fog Beetle
A darkling beetle that harvests drinking water from coastal fog in the Namib Desert. It tilts its body into the wind so condensation runs down its shell into its mouth.
Did You Know?
This beetles shell has hydrophilic bumps surrounded by hydrophobic troughs — fog collects on the bumps and rolls to its mouth. This inspired new water-harvesting technologies.
Apache Cicada
A large green and brown cicada that sings loudly in the Sonoran Desert heat. Nymphs spend years underground feeding on root sap of desert trees.
Did You Know?
It can sing at temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius by using evaporative cooling through its body.