Trechine Cave Ground Beetle vs Golden Dung Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Trechine Cave Ground Beetle | Golden Dung Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphaenops cerberus | Scathophaga stercoraria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Scathophagidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | French Pyrenees (Ariège, Haute-Garonne) | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
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.
Golden Dung Fly
A common furry yellow fly that gathers on fresh cow dung to mate and hunt.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely competitive and wrestle each other for access to females on dung pats.