West African Tiger Beetle vs Kosovo Caddisfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | West African Tiger Beetle | Kosovo Caddisfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megacephala megacephala | Tinodes lumbardhi |
| Order | Coleoptera | Trichoptera |
| Family | Cicindelidae | Psychomyiidae |
| Size | 18-25 mm | 6-8 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Predators | Detritivores |
| Regions | West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana) | Europe |
| 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.
Kosovo Caddisfly
A caddisfly species new to science described in 2025 from the Lumbardhi i Decanit River in Kosovo. Its discovery highlighted an important but overlooked biodiversity hotspot.
Did You Know?
This species was discovered in a river in Kosovo — its description drew international attention to the Balkans as an overlooked and underexplored insect biodiversity hotspot.