Snail-killing Fly Beetle vs Giant Japygid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Snail-killing Fly Beetle Giant Japygid
Scientific Name Drilus flavescens Metajapyx subterraneus
Order Coleoptera Diplura
Family Drilidae Japygidae
Size 7-15mm 10-20 mm
Habitat Underground Caves
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Snail-killing Fly Beetle

A brown beetle with soft elytra where males are winged but females are larviform and never develop wings. It specializes in hunting snails.

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Did You Know?

The larva enters a snails shell and slowly consumes it alive over several days before pupating inside the empty shell.

Giant Japygid

One of the larger diplurans, found in deep soil and caves in southern Europe. It is a voracious predator of other soil invertebrates.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few diplurans large enough to be visible to the naked eye without magnification.