Coffin Cave Mold Beetle (Batrisodes texanus)

Texas Status

Endangered

U.S. Status

Endangered, Listed 9/16/1988

Description

The Coffin Cave Mold Beetle is a small, long-legged beetle with short wings. It lives in total darkness and has no eyes. Adult size is less than 1/8 inch long (about 2.6 to 2.9 millimeters).

Life History

Coffin Cave mold beetles' food preferences are unknown, and they do not have seasonal reproductive cycles. Their population numbers are unknown.

Habitat

These mold beetles live under and among rocks or buried in silt.

Distribution

It is found in the Edwards Plateau, Williamson County, Texas. The Coffin Cave mold beetle is the only one of the endangered invertebrates found only in Williamson County.

Other

The Coffin Cave mold beetle is the only one of the endangered invertebrates found only in Williamson County. The primary threat to the Coffin Cave mold beetle and other endangered cave invertebrates is the loss of habitat due to urban development. Many caves have been paved over or filled in. Other caves have been altered so that they no longer provide the stable temperatures and high humidity needed to support these animals. Contamination by pollutants is also a threat to their survival.