North African Bombardier Beetle vs Sardinian Cave Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute North African Bombardier Beetle Sardinian Cave Beetle
Scientific Name Brachinus humeralis Speomolops sardous
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Molopidius
Size 8-12 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Heathland Caves
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North Africa, Southern Europe Sardinia
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

North African Bombardier Beetle

A bombardier beetle found in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin. It has a reddish-brown head and thorax with dark blue-black elytra.

💡

Did You Know?

Like other bombardier beetles it can fire its chemical spray in rapid pulses of up to 500 times per second.

Sardinian Cave Beetle

A blind cave beetle endemic to a single cave system in Sardinia. It has no eyes, no pigment, and elongated legs and antennae.

💡

Did You Know?

It was only discovered in 1970 and remains known from a single cave near Cagliari.