Ohlone Tiger Beetle vs European Hangingfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ohlone Tiger Beetle | European Hangingfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cicindela ohlone | Bittacus italicus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Mecoptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Bittacidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 18-25 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Santa Cruz County, California, United States | Europe |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Ohlone Tiger Beetle
One of the rarest tiger beetles in North America, known from only a handful of coastal terrace grassland sites near Santa Cruz, California. It has greenish-bronze elytra with thin white markings.
Did You Know?
Described as recently as 1993, it is found on fewer than 10 sites totaling less than 50 acres, making it one of the most geographically restricted insects in North America.
European Hangingfly
A delicate predatory insect with long legs that hangs from grass stems and snatches prey with its prehensile hind tarsi. Found in Mediterranean grasslands.
Did You Know?
The prehensile hind tarsi of hangingflies can close like a jackknife, trapping prey in a fraction of a second.