Trechine Cave Ground Beetle vs Alpine Cave Springtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Trechine Cave Ground Beetle | Alpine Cave Springtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphaenops cerberus | Onychiuroides alpinus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Collembola |
| Family | Carabidae | Onychiuridae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 0.8-1.2 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Caves |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | French Pyrenees (Ariège, Haute-Garonne) | Italy |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Data Deficient |
Trechine Cave Ground Beetle
A fully cave-adapted ground beetle from the Pyrenees with no eyes, no pigmentation, and extremely elongated spider-like legs and antennae. It is beautifully adapted to life in total darkness.
Did You Know?
Named after Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the underworld, this beetle navigates pitch-dark caves using enormously elongated antennae that can be twice its body length.
Alpine Cave Springtail
A recently described blind springtail from caves in the Italian Alps. It lacks eyes, pigment, and a jumping furca.
Did You Know?
It survives in caves where temperatures remain just a few degrees above freezing.