Coffin Cave Mold Beetle
Batrisodes texanus
This record describes Batrisodes texanus (species). Recorded family: Staphylinidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Batrisodes texanus can only be distinguished from other pselaphid beetles by a qualified systematist upon microscopic study. Type Specimen: Male holotype from Inner Space Cavern , Williamson County, Texas, May 23, 1965. Collected by William H. Russell. Deposited in Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Female paratypes from Inner Space Cavern and Off Campus Cave, Williamson County (deposited in Donald S. Chandler collection) and Coffin Cave, Williamson County (deposited in Texas Memorial Museum). The Coffin Cave paratype was the first collected on November 3, 1963, by James Reddell. Texas Parks & Wildlife considers this to be a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Staphylinoidea
- Family
- Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Pselaphinae
- Tribe
- Jubini
- Genus
- Batrisodes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Endemic to karst formations (caves, sinkholes, and other subterranean voids). Found in total darkness under rocks.
Geographic Range
Known from four caves in Williamson Co. in central Texas. All localities occur within a 17 km stretch. (Coffin Cave have been filled or destroyed as attempts to relocate the cave have been unsuccessful.)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Unknown, but though to be a predator.
Life History
Cave obligate species or troglobite, a species that spends its entire life underground.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Batrisodes texanus Chandler, 1992 Coffin Cave Mold Beetle is the official USFWS name for this federally listed endangered species. Coffin Cave is one of the caves the beetle was originally found in. The term "mold beetle" refers to an old definition of "mold" as rotting plant material.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Batrisodes texanus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Coffin Cave Mold Beetle (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Coffin Cave Mold Beetle
What is Coffin Cave Mold Beetle?
Coffin Cave Mold Beetle (Batrisodes texanus) is a species in the family Staphylinidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Coffin Cave Mold Beetle?
2.6 to 2.9 mm
How do you identify Coffin Cave Mold Beetle?
Batrisodes texanus can only be distinguished from other pselaphid beetles by a qualified systematist upon microscopic study.
Where is Coffin Cave Mold Beetle found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Endemic to karst formations (caves, sinkholes, and other subterranean voids). Found in total darkness under rocks. |
| Range | Known from four caves in Williamson Co. in central Texas. All localities occur within a 17 km stretch. (Coffin Cave have been filled or destroyed as attempts to relocate the cave have been unsuccessful.) |
What does Coffin Cave Mold Beetle eat?
The diet of the Coffin Cave Mold Beetle includes Unknown, but though to be a predator..
What is the life cycle of a Coffin Cave Mold Beetle?
Cave obligate species or troglobite, a species that spends its entire life underground.