Namib Fog Beetle vs Slender Groundhopper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Namib Fog Beetle | Slender Groundhopper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Stenocara gracilipes | Tetrix subulata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Orthoptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Tetrigidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 9-14 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | Africa | Europe, Asia, 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.
Slender Groundhopper
A small, fully-winged pygmy grasshopper found near water in marshy and boggy habitats across the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike many groundhoppers, it can fly well and readily colonizes new wetland sites.
Did You Know?
It can swim and even submerge briefly to escape predators, unusual behavior for a grasshopper.