Namib Fog Beetle vs Scarce Stag Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Namib Fog Beetle | Scarce Stag Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stenocara gracilipes | Platycerus caraboides |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Lucanidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 9-13mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Africa | Europe |
| 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.
Scarce Stag Beetle
A small metallic blue-black stag beetle with modest mandibles. It develops in red-rotten beech wood.
Did You Know?
Despite being called scarce it is actually fairly common but overlooked due to its small size and dark coloring.