West African Tiger Beetle vs Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | West African Tiger Beetle | Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megacephala megacephala | Brennania belkini |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cicindelidae | Tabanidae |
| Size | 18-25 mm | 1-1.5 cm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana) | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
West African Tiger Beetle
A large, nocturnal tiger beetle with a broad head and powerful mandibles. The body is dark brown to black with subtle metallic reflections. It is a fast runner that hunts other insects on sandy ground at night.
Did You Know?
Tiger beetles are among the fastest running insects, capable of sprinting so fast they temporarily go blind and must stop to re-orient.
Belkin's Dune Tabanid Fly
A rare horse fly known only from the El Segundo sand dunes in Los Angeles County. Larvae develop in the sand and adults are seldom encountered.
Did You Know?
Most of the El Segundo dunes were destroyed to build Los Angeles International Airport.